Destined for child marriage
Lilian, 26, is a vibrant presenter in a popular radio station in Baringo County, Kenya. As a pioneer female journalist in her community, she uses her career to fight for the rights of children, especially girls who are vulnerable to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and child marriages in her home area.
Growing up, Lilian never dreamed of the life she has now.
"As the first born girl in a family of seven children, my parents always knew that at some point, based on our culture, they would have me circumcised and married off so they could get more cattle through my dowry," she states.
Having large herds of cattle is viewed as a sign of wealth among her community. As such, families are often eager to ‘sell off’ their daughters to the highest bidder. Lilian always feared that she would suffer the same fate.
From an early age, she was allowed to go to school, where she excelled due to her love for education.
"But at the back of my mind, I knew that all this would end and I would be forced to stop learning in my teens so as to undergo FGM and get married," says Lilian.