Community Environment and Education of Girls: The Case of Communities in Marsabit County, Kenya

Abstract

The study sought to investigate the role of the community in inhibiting girls’ access and participation in formal education in Marsabit County-Kenya. As one of the marginalized counties in Kenya, the county had among the highest rate of illiteracy in Kenya with 68 per cent of residents with no formal education. The study involved a total of 128 informants, including school girls, boys, parents, and local leaders. The study utilized three main tools in data collection; interviews, focused group discussions and whole community mapping. The study found out that the selected four communities did not have adequate number of role models for girls; there were cases of teenage pregnancy, early marriages and practiced ‘girl booking’ that affected girls’ participation in formal education. The study recommends tripartite efforts by the national government, county government of Marsabit County, and civil societies involved in advocacy of girls’ education to particularly involve boys in their interventions to ensure that all girls access schools.