Stakeholders warn girls and women face high risk during El Niño rains.

By Nyabande Orwa.

Girls and women face a high risk of being affected by floods that could be caused by the heavy El Niño rains expected in the country. This is according to the Executive Director of the non-governmental organisation Indigenous Resource Management Organization (IREMO), Lokho Abduba Omuro.

Speaking to journalists after a forum that brought together stakeholders defending the rights of the girl child in Marsabit County, Lokho called on the government and other organisations to intervene early to protect girls from the effects of floods, including being burdened with family responsibilities during disasters.

Lokho also said drug abuse and social media remain a challenge in the upbringing and moral formation of girls. He urged parents, guardians and the community at large to work together in guiding children and protecting them from behaviour that could endanger their future.

He said many children are left on their own at home while schools are closed, which makes them vulnerable and the situation difficult for them. He urged the whole community to take good care of children and show them the right way, and warned that if parents fail in this responsibility, the generation will be lost.

On the 2027 general election, Lokho encouraged women to come forward and vie for leadership positions without fear, saying their participation is important in strengthening women’s representation and their role in decision-making.

He said women in Marsabit have formed a Women’s Council of about 15 members drawn from the different communities of the county, and that women should not use lack of means or resources as an excuse not to seek leadership.

For his part, nominated MCA in the Marsabit County Assembly, Darare Gonche, urged county governments to continue empowering girls and women to take part in leadership positions even after the general election.

The event was funded by partners of Oxfam and AHN, with the county’s women’s rights organisations Mwado and the Indigenous Resource Management Organization playing a major role in sensitising stakeholders on the issue.