KAKENYA’S Charity Walk Efforts Advance Girls’ Education and Fight Against FGM
Posted by JIM MWANDA
KAKENYA’S Charity Walk efforts brought together supporters in Nairobi and Kilgoris in championing girls’ education, healthcare access, the fight against FGM and child marriage in rural Kenya through scholarships and community empowerment programs.
In Summary
- Kakenya’s Dream used its 2026 charity walk to raise both funds and national awareness around girls’ education, healthcare access, FGM, child marriage, and teen pregnancy in underserved rural communities.
- The organization says it has supported more than 1,000 girls through school and reached over 35,000 young people through life skills, mentorship, and community empowerment programs over the past 15 years.
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The atmosphere at Nairobi Academy yesterday morning carried more than the excitement of a charity walk. It carried stories of resilience, hope, and determination from some of Kenya’s most underserved rural communities, where access to education, healthcare, and basic dignity remains a daily struggle for thousands of girls.
Under the theme “Steps Toward Change,” the Kakenya’s Dream Charity Walk 2026 brought together students, educators, alumni, community leaders, development partners, and supporters in a collective effort to advocate for girls’ empowerment and raise support for education initiatives targeting vulnerable communities in Narok and beyond. Simultaneously, another walk took place at Enkakenya Comprehensive School in Kilgoris, symbolically connecting urban supporters with the realities facing rural families.
For Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya, founder and CEO of Kakenya’s Dream, the event represented much more than fundraising. Speaking during the event, she described the walk as a movement aimed at restoring dignity, opportunity, and hope to girls who continue to face barriers such as female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage, poverty, lack of school infrastructure, and limited healthcare services.
She explained that every step taken during the walk symbolized an investment in a girl’s future, whether through scholarships, school supplies, mentorship, sanitary products, or psychosocial support. According to Dr. Kakenya, the organization’s mission goes beyond paying school fees. It focuses on ensuring that girls can stay in school consistently without interruption caused by poverty or social challenges.
In many of the communities where the organization works, children still study under trees due to inadequate classrooms, while some schools lack desks, toilets, and basic learning materials. Roads into certain villages remain inaccessible, making it difficult for development organizations to consistently reach affected populations. Despite these challenges, Kakenya’s Dream has continued to expand its footprint in remote areas where services are often limited.
Dr. Kakenya noted that the organization’s largest operations are currently concentrated in rural Narok County, with additional programs in Kisii County and plans to expand into Kajiado County. The focus remains on reaching marginalized communities that are often overlooked in mainstream development efforts. She emphasized that many of these areas continue to experience high cases of FGM, child marriage, and teen pregnancies, all of which contribute to girls dropping out of school prematurely.
Over the last 15 years, the organization says it has supported more than 1,000 girls from primary school through university education. Beyond scholarships, the organization has also partnered with approximately 80 schools to provide life skills training and mentorship programs aimed at empowering students to speak up, build confidence, and become advocates for change within their communities. Through these initiatives, Kakenya’s Dream estimates it has impacted more than 35,000 young people.
Healthcare has also become a critical pillar of the organization’s work. Dr. Kakenya highlighted the growing need for youth-friendly medical services, particularly for adolescent girls who face stigma during pregnancy or reproductive health challenges. Through its health clinic initiatives, the organization has sought to provide accessible and stigma-free care closer to rural populations.
According to the organization, the clinics handled nearly 10,000 patients over the past year, with approximately 1,500 patients seeking services monthly. The services extend beyond treatment and include counseling, mental health support, prenatal care, and laboratory testing. Dr. Kakenya stressed that healthcare should not be a privilege available only to those who can travel long distances to urban centers.
She acknowledged government investments in rural dispensaries but pointed out that many facilities still struggle with medicine shortages, limited laboratory services, and inadequate staffing. She called for stronger partnerships between community organizations, healthcare providers, and government institutions to bridge the gaps affecting vulnerable populations.
One of the strongest messages emerging from the charity walk was the importance of community involvement in transforming society. Through initiatives such as the Linda Dada and JUA programs, Kakenya’s Dream has been organizing community dialogues aimed at educating parents, boys, girls, elders, and local leaders about the importance of education and gender equality.
Dr. Kakenya emphasized that sustainable change cannot happen by focusing only on girls while excluding boys and men from the conversation. Although scholarship opportunities largely target girls, the organization’s mentorship and life skills programs involve boys, fathers, and community members to encourage collective responsibility in ending harmful cultural practices and creating safer environments for children.
She challenged Kenyans from all sectors to become active participants in supporting vulnerable children, arguing that meaningful change does not only come from organizations or donors but also from ordinary citizens willing to mentor, sponsor, or advocate for a child’s future.
The charity walk also served as a platform for raising awareness rather than focusing solely on financial targets. While the organization successfully achieved its fundraising goal of one million shillings, Dr. Kakenya said the greater victory was drawing national attention to issues that still persist quietly within many rural communities.
She observed that despite Kenya’s economic progress, many families continue to sleep hungry, children still lack proper learning environments, and young girls remain vulnerable to harmful practices. For her, addressing these inequalities requires consistent advocacy, stronger policy implementation, and sustained grassroots engagement.
The choice of Kilgoris as one of the main venues carried personal significance for the founder. Dr. Kakenya revealed that the region is not only where the organization began but also where she was born and raised. It remains the foundation of the movement and a reminder of how transformative education can be when vulnerable children are given an opportunity to thrive.
As participants crossed the finish line yesterday, the walk represented more than a successful event. It became a visible reminder that behind every statistic on FGM, child marriage, or school dropout rates are real children whose futures depend on collective action. Through its charity walk efforts, Kakenya’s Dream continues to push for a Kenya where every girl, regardless of where she is born, has the chance to learn, lead, and build a better future.
