Understanding Youth & Adolescent Lifestyle to Inform RH Communication Samburu County

Sectional Picture of Town Participatory Observation Report Samburu County 2017

Integrating Youth & Adolescent Lifestyle to Inform Reproductive Health Communication

Acknowledgement Data collection & Reporting done by TW Media in collaboration with HCM PO Report 2017

Content Out of School male (10-14 years) 4 Married girl illiterate (20-24 years) 8 Moran (15-19 years) 14 Married girl out of school (15-19 years) 20 College girl (20-24 years) 24 Unmarried female, with child(20-24 years) 27

A Manyatta About the study

• The study in Samburu was done in two sub-counties. These are Samburu East and Samburu Central. In each of the two sub-counties we covered 3 locations

• Samburu Central • Samburu East 1. Maralal Town 1. Sereolipi 2. Porro 2. Wamba 3. Suguta Mar Mar 3.

• The categories captured in this report include: • Out of school male, aged 10-14 years • Married girl illiterate and aged 20-24 years • Moran aged 15-19 years • Married girl out of school aged 15-19 years • College girl aged 20-24 years • Unmarried literate female, with child 20-24 years Out of School male (10-14 years)

Lekeete herding cattle in Kirisia Forest Illiterate Adolescent Male

Introduction Either go to town (Maralal), sell some animals or He is 13 years old and his life revolves around herding cattle. His chickens and replenish his stock of basic needs. day starts early as by 5.00am he takes the cows for early morning Considering he is a male child he pretty much “LIMO”. This is believed to be the best time to allow cows to eat caters for his needs which includes clothing. fresh green grass thus reflects in milk production. The cows graze Mostly he regularly sells chicken as opposed to until 9.00am then are taken home for milking. After breakfast he goats which are only sold on special occasions. On goes to herd the goats for the rest of the day till 5.00 or 6.00pm average each chicken fetches him between KES each day. He is from a nuclear family and the dad only has one 200-300 for a layer whereas a cockerel fetches wife. He is from a family of 4 children, 3 brothers and a sister. None him about KES 500. of the brothers have gone to school but luckily the sister goes to school and she is in class two. Leketee indigenous ‘kienyeji’ chicken reared for sale Learning from the older Morans he has discovered it is very important for a man to take good care of himself such that one of the most important rule is body hygiene and dressing well. This includes regular showering and dressing up. Its their way of remaining cool. The kind of perfume that mostly is purchased is either the ‘wararo’ inspired small bottle perfumes that have a strong smell or deo sprays. The second important thing he purchases are his clothes as for a Samburu Moran one must dress up to remain cool. Any money left is kept as savings and is used to buy things like an additional “shuka”, condoms and “ngumu” (a form of pastry that is very hard to chew).

Leketee herding cattle in Kirisia Forest Traditional Samburu Shuka On the other hand for rental houses, what he is Sexual Behaviour just sure it is very important that he owns them but cannot quite estimate effectively as he does not yet understand the scope of what it entails. At the tender age of 10 years he had his first sexual encounter. Probing further on how he What he can see is the existence of the need for learnt about sex he says he had watched several rentals given that the rising population of Maralal adults having sex and he wanted to experiment. the nearest town is growing and more people He also had witnessed several Morans do the act need houses to let. What matters is the fact that in the forest with the girls while they go herding he is willing to take the diversification risk. the animals in the wild. Since then he has learnt a lot and confesses that majority of the girls he In my view he is very enlightened not only for his sleeps with are about 3 to 5 years older than him. age but also considering that he is not only He agrees that he does not yet have a girlfriend Kirisia Forest where he goes to meet girls illiterate but also lives 90% of his life in the wild. “SINTANI” but has multiple partners. Since he He has adopted to his environment and learns a knows some of these girls date older Morans Dress up day. During this day he takes a shower, lot through observation. He is an optimist who not “warani”, he always has to be careful not to get dresses his best, and goes out in the forest. To caught as he knows that this would cause a fight to only wants to live better in the future but also erupt. him, the forest is full of potential and infinite knows and understands the need to diversify his possibilities, it’s his form of ‘paradise’. Here he wealth. So unlike where he comes from where either 1) goes to flirt with girls 2) goes looking for people believe in the accumulation of wealth honey. through animals he is wise enough to realise than for his future survival he needs more than animals Dreams & Aspirations and is therefore seeking wider options for wealth All the same he has big dreams for his future. In creation that are also sustainable. the next 10 years he is hoping to have achieved the following: 1) have at least 30 chickens 2) He currently does not have a phone but is looking between 100-200 cows 3) between 400-500 forward to owning one and currently saving for it. goats 4) a plot where he will build rental houses If he had a phone he says the first person he 5) at least 20 camel who will be participating in would call are the girls he flirts with. He feels that the annual Camel derby. Notably for animals that it would greatly influence and enhance his he is well versed with how they work and their relationships worth he can already clearly estimate how many he would like to own.

Condoms To ensure he does not contract diseases or make In this case, what he does is ask for condoms but any of the girls pregnant, he ensures to use a in case another customer comes in before condom every time for all encounters. He transaction is complete he asks for different purchases several packs of condoms during his medication and tell retailer to return condoms he did not ask for them then waits until the customer free day when he goes to the nearest town, purchases and leaves. He then returns the Maralal which is about 6KM from home. Each pack medication and starts process of asking for of condom has 3 pieces and costs KES 20-50 condoms. This goes on until when he can depending on the brand available at point of successfully purchase the condoms with no other purchase. customer in sight.

Conclusion The barriers when purchasing condoms do exist since once he gets to the chemist to purchase the Challenges that greatly affect adoption of condoms he cannot ask for them directly in front contraceptives: of people. It is usually a process and sometimes it • Distance takes such a long time at the chemist before he gets a chance to buy. The only advantage is that • Fear of judgement at point of purchase the retailer never questions why a child is purchasing the condoms as I am meant to The programmes that would work for this target understand that sometimes older people send kids have to include: to purchase on their behalf. The nearest Chemist • Moran to moran & younger males before is in Maralal town which is at least 6 KM from inititiation information transfer home. Thus he takes advantage of the days he has to go to the market to purchase condoms. • Education at initiation through a Moran CHV For these programmes to work they have to be attached to catalysts that directly affect his lifestyle e.g. wealth creation. The need to show him that in case he does not protect himself he may never achieve his goals Spears used to protect the herd while inCondoms the forest Married girl illiterate (20-24 years)

The shanga worn when betrothed for marriage Illiterate Female Youth, Married Introduction Rose is 23 years old and a mother of 4 children, 2 girls and 2 boys. The first born is 10 years, second born 7 years, third born 4 years and the forth born is a new born who is only one month old. She got married at the age of 10 years to a husband who was almost 35 years old. Upon her betrothal she underwent circumcision. Luckily being so young she healed within two weeks. Then she was married off.

The roof of her manyatta that she makes out of Cypress tree bark

Her household chores include: fetching water, washing clothes, farming their one acre of land, fetching wood from the forest, making meals; milking etc. She is also the one in charge of building the house which has to be redone every two years. Her husband has about 10 cows and 10 goats and this is their core income source. Three cows are milked and each give about one and a half litres for which they sell to buy basic needs. To pay for school fees they sell a goat.

Rose holding her one month old baby The compound that she also uses as the cow / goat shed at night Dreams & Aspirations

b. ‘Shanga’ – it was a means to mark a jewel prior d. Female circumcision – having gone through the to marriage. The shanga were worn on the neck process, she does not want her daughters to go and another on the leg (nkupuri enkeju) and could through the same. not be removed after that as they were permanent. Currently, the shangas have been e. Early marriage and chosen marriage partner – modernized such that for those that still wear it has been culturally right to choose partners for them, they can remove them at night when sleeping. Majority of those in urban areas only the girls and also marry them off from the age of choose to wear them during occasions. She is a 10 years. She intends to allow her daughter’s good example of a modern lady as she only wears choose their partners and at the age they feel her shanga when going to visit her parents or ready. She says that around here (Porro) one in during occasions. She lives in Porro which is peri- every 4 homes you will find a girl who was married urban location. off early. However, majority do not want their children to go through the same experience and working very hard to ensure they go to school. She has big dreams for children and her life where her children will get to complete school and pursue a courses of their choice.; this includes girls. She believes studies is their way out of poverty early marriage. She also hopes to purchase a bigger parcel of and where she will be farming all year round. Currently she only farms one season per year Fading Culture She notes that there are several things in the Samburu culture that are fading away such as: Her removable leg shanga a. Polygamy – she believes as modernization c. Education – never used to catches up with Samburu people, more men are value education. When education was introduced, Rose is a mother of 4 children marrying one wife. Herself and most of her friends parents used to choose the bright children to be She takes cognisant of the fact that her husband do not have co-wives and they are hoping none left at home and the ‘stupid’ ones would be taken has the final say on the matter. However, has comes. Though she sights that mostly it is the men to school. Today many of them are taking all their already started negotiating with her husband to who have the say not wives on whether there will children to school. Her three children are in school ensure this dream is achieved. This is because she be a co-wife. and she hope they can attain the highest possible does not want to risk him changing his mind when education that is university level. her daughter becomes a teenager. Sexual Behaviour Her initiation into sexual life was traumatising. At the age of 10 she had not started puberty; she had After the second born she was convinced by the nurse to use a contraceptive and she settled for depo. never seen or heard about menses; no breasts; no She says depo has not affected her in any way. Based on her friend’s complaints she understands that pubic hair; in short she was still a child. Her first jadelle causes excessive bleeding and back pains. She hopes to get two more children to make 6. sexual experience was a mixture of confusion, However, she says if her husband gets his way, he wants 12 children, who she feels may strain the shock and wounding. She did not understand what family too much. was happening and unfortunately she was not allowed to ask any questions either; and she could not share with anyone. When she was identified for marriage, she got circumcised and after two weeks to heal she got married. The husband controlled everything and she had no rights. She got her menses after her first child. By this time, she was a bit enlightened from the hospital advice she got so she purchased pads.

Despite her lack of knowledge she has managed to space all her four children effectively. She says for the first 2 children she did not know about contraceptives and what helped was the fact that she did breastfeeding for two years for each child during which period she did not get her menses. Porro Health Centre where she goes for the contraceptives Conclusion

Challenge expected are the long distances that girls have to walk to access the nearest health centre in order to access the relevant information

Propose the use of ladies like her who have actively adopted use of contraceptives and empower them to be ambassadors for the local community by her :

• Being a living proof thus ambassador testimonial for giving reassurance to the girls that after use of contraceptives one can still conceive; a good example of how spacing should be done considering she has successfully managed to space and is considering having two more children

• Enhancing the message that taking girls to school is a plus to not only empowerment and in breaking cycle of poverty; through walking around her neighbourhood with the CHV or being trained as a CHV helper and passing the message to the rest of the girls

Mini manyatta’s made at the local health care centres to mimic a real manyatta and encourage more girls to come to hospital to give birth The women walk long distances to go to the market, health centre etc. Moran (15-19 years)

Patrine has to adorn himself with bangles as part of enhancing his look Male, illiterate and married Introduction He is 19 years old and almost one year in marriage The issue of getting two wives is the Education though no children yet. The wife is 18 years old. He provision of assistance to not only take lives in the outskirts of Suguta Mar Mar in a care of the animals but also manage the traditional manyatta. He hails from a family of 9 household duties. This as he believes he children, 5 ladies and 4 men and the father has a co- will get more animals. He is a cattle wife who has 6 children. He has one wife but hopes herder and currently owns 30 goats and 6 after getting 4 children he gets a second wife just milk cows, though none of the cows are like his dad. being milked yet. Given that this is a dry season (June) he and his fellow morans must go search for animal fodder a hundred plus kilometres with the nearest location being in . Anytime he must travel he makes several arrangements as he will be gone for at least six months such that: Suguta Mar Mar primary school that is 3KM from his home • He must be accompanied by a younger Though he is not learned he hopes to take his children to boy from the family, this acts as security school. The barrier he sites is the fact that the nearest for his family but also he needs a helper. school is an ECD centre which is about 1-1.5 kilometres No moran travels alone and in this case away from his home. The centre is supported by the he travels with other morans and mostly Catholic church and is also used as a church on Sunday’s. in the same age set as him. The traveling All the primary schools and beyond are in the nearest in groups allows them to form groups to town centre of Suguta Mar Mar which is about 3KM both take care of the animals as well as away. He says that though around the community provide security for the animals majority of the people are illiterate there is slow • He sells a cow and gets into an progress on value of education. The distance to access agreement with a local shop where the schools just makes it all that harder. This is because makes payment for food items. The if for example the kids should go to the ECD centre they estimate is based on how much the would need to be escorted there and picked, and family will use in the next 6 months. Any unfortunately there is no one to do that. This was extra items the family uses, he pays when he is back. This introduces family evidenced by the small kids (about 5) all below the age stability and gives children a chance to of 6 years we found in the homestead and all don’t go to go to school as they do not have to keep school. That’s when I realized how bad the issue of migrating with the father as he seeks distance and safety becomes an impediment to deriving Patrine, 19 years and married. Sitting on his bed fodder for the animals. the value of education to a marginalized community. Being Moran

Giving birth to a baby boy is very fulfilling for any Similarly, herding is instilled at a young age to Samburu woman. Reason being a home without a the sons. At the age of 3 years a son is given boy is considered not to have children. In addition his first responsibility which is herding the kids without a boy the woman has to be the one to (baby goats); between the ages of 5-8 years herd animals throughout, while also the man the boy looks after calves; and from the age of being head of the household will not get the 8-10 years he is placed in charge of a whole respect he deserves from the peers. For any flock, and gets assistance from the elder woman who does not give birth to boys, the man brothers (if he has any) or dad. In cases where automatically should marry again as he seeks to the boys are attending school, then they herd restore his respect in the society. during the weekend whereas during the week an elder brother who did not enrol in school herds. In cases where a family does not have a son and they need help, there is allowance to seek assistance to mix a flock with one of a family member or neighbour they herd together. Moran’s are the proudest set in the Samburu society. In the level of importance in the society first is the elders and secondly is the Cow pen next to Patrine’s manyatta Moran’s. Everyone else is others. The role of A father who has sons shares his animals with them morans in a community is to provide security at different stages. While a young boy, a son is and be ready to defend the society and their The wife’s room with the kids inside a manyatta & kitchen storage in Patrines’ manyatta allocated some animals (all others born out of his wealth (animals) under all circumstances. share increase his herd); when the boy becomes a Being Moran is a journey that happens in many Moran, he gets another share of animals from his small steps and this makes them special in the father’s flock. He will either get his last share when society to an extent for an outsider they are he marries and has to start his own herd or if the viewed as condescending. The Moran culture not only is it designed to make them wild but also to father passes on then all remaining animals are be ‘heartless’ such that in case of war they will not shared amongst the sons. have family attachment being an impediment. Moran-ism is attained upon circumcision. • They cannot eat in front of females. This to an • With all the controversy on how Moran’s relate Circumcision is done in age sets and in cycles of 7 extent that when in a hotel, some have sections for Moran’s only where no female is with food I was curious as to whether there is years each. The last circumcision was held in 2013 any lady who can cook for them and they eat. and the next is expected in 2020. But the question allowed. This taboo is so strong such that in case a woman / lady goes seeking firewood in The two scenarios emerged: remains, what happens if you miss an age set for the forest and accidentally bumps on them one reason or another and realise that you are • An old lady can cook for them tea, but when they are in the process of slaughtering or for them to drink she would still have to becoming too old such that you can’t wait for the preparing a meal, the woman / lady has to take next age set? The response from an elder was that off at high speed. This is because it is believed leave the room in such case parents can approach elders and seek ‘umekanyanga chakula’. What this means is • If a Moran marries, he will not eat his wife’s that they can’t eat that food. In case by bad exemption for their son. One valid reason that food until he does a ritual that will allow the would make elders permit your son to get luck they catch up with the lady she is beaten and made to eat all the food elders to convert him to a ‘mzee’. The ritual is circumcised outside an age set is if the son wants done after about 3 months in marriage and to marry. After circumcision stage, several things • They do not eat birds e.g. chicken. during this celebration then he is crowned and happen: Interestingly, Samburu is blessed with plenty of has effectively graduated. During this ‘kienyeji’ chicken but the Moran’s do not eat, celebration there is also ‘muratina’ a local brew • A son cannot eat at the mother’s house but as its considered a taboo rather in the forest. After circumcision, a ritual made by grandmothers out of a mix of sugar, is done where a certain part of a sheep is given honey and herbs (‘SUKUROI’ sticks) by a son to his mother as sign of thanksgiving since he was born. This also to signify his last meal to eat in his mother’s house. Post circumcision, the only way a mother can assist a son is with probably purchasing for him some foods to go share with fellow Moran’s. am meant to understand this also serves to ensure Moran’s from not so well up families also get to feed well by sharing with the rest. • No Moran eats alone but rather a culture of sharing is instilled in them. This is aimed at building togetherness which becomes their anchor in times of war. This ensures they are self sufficient

Patrine shows us what he carries with him daily: a knife, soap, mirror, match box and perfume … Sexual Behaviour He opened about the courting process which he describes as playful, fun and happens in different steps which are described as: • A Moran spots a potential girl • Approaches and speaks to her’ • The moran surveys the girl through friends to confirm her character and how hardworking she is. This gives him assurance that he has found a wife who can build a home. As it is in Samburu culture, the women do 90% of the work at home including: herding animals, fetching water, building the manyatta, being the breadwinner, cooking and all other household chores. The men take the animals only to far away places to herd during drought seasons • They chat for some time and if in agreement they move to the next step Patrine’s cow hide bed • The Moran visits the girls parents to tell of his intentions • He negotiates for himself to the girl’s parents on number of • Moran’s are believed they do not poo but rather remove cowrie shells animals he is expected to pay as dowry • The girls’ father comes to a consensus on number of animals • One should remain a Moran for about 13 years. Initially the set age by the elders was 15 years but this they duly reviewed recently. During this period, there are several “MUGET” (Moran graduation) ceremonies held: • Two years after circumcision, a leader is identified amongst the age set by the elders • No Moran within this age set can marry prior to the leader getting a wife. The wife is carefully selected from a family that the elders feel after a careful investigation process befits. • In case any Moran wants to marry before the leader gets a wife, he has to seek permission from the elders and after a lot of deliberations, if the reason is found to be compelling then he is permitted. Example of compelling reason is if a father dies and the son being the eldest has to take up head of household then in such a circumstance he may seek elders permission to marry before the leader in the age set marries A Samburu girl from fetching water at the river On SEX and RELATIONSHIP, he says male are not only In his opinion he says some of the things that fuel dominant but rather women have minimal rights. He is quick to reiterate that during recent times as Moran’s are RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR include: marrying girls their age mates, there is element of • The singing events held in the wee hours of the freedom to a certain extent such that during the early night where Moran’s are present with ladies with years of marriage there is pleasure but also the lady can no supervision provides an open risk platform ask for sex. However, this dies off with time. This he attributes to: • Culture, where older men marry very young girls. • The culture does not teach the art of pleasure but Unfortunately, since sex is an act not for rather sex is viewed as the action of a female pleasure, there is increasing cases of infidelity. In satisfying a man’s needs this case the married women are seeking younger • Moran’s adopt pomp & color for special occasions Their lifestyle, where a man having been out all day Moran’s for pleasure while still in marriage. This herding comes back tired and he says he does not is because as a young Moran one ‘seduces, Conclusion think any man will have time to flirt with the wife touches and stimulates’ whereas for husbands Challenges that greatly affect adoption of who are also way older than the wife’s’ there contraceptives among the Moran’s: does not exist any level of intimacy. In fact, one • Fear as Moran’s remain an untouchable described it as an act that is preceded by a ‘TAP’ segment of the Samburu community on the thigh which is supposed to signal the wife • Seclusion: Moran’s don’t mix with the rest and expected to eat and live in the forest its time to turn, the man satisfies his needs then or jungle goes to sleep immediately and the wife is not The programmes that would work for this expected to talk or ask questions. Asking why a target have to include: wife cannot talk to a man after sex a lady jokingly • Generational transfer of information at said ‘after the act wanaume wanapandisha moli’. circumcision This means in case a wife questions she is calling • for thorough beating. If even sex can lead to Recruitment of Moran CHV’s gender based violence, there will be no reason • Programmes in line with the herding cycles for a wife not to seek the younger Moran who is of Moran’s willing to provide pleasure she so much desires • Moonlight programmes during cultural but does not get. music nights Moran adorn with strong perfume Married girl out of school (15-19 years)

Naanyu at the settlement where she does beading At 8:00 she goes to Archers post to take the beads that she can use for beading. This is always an opportunity for her to go and interact with Introduction the other women in the market and discuss on the issues around the She is 19 years old married with 2 girls . One aged 5 and the other one aged 2 women and also about life, financial empowerment and betterment of years old. She was the only girl in her family and was never allowed to go to their children’s future. school. She was married at the age of 14 years as a source of dowry for her parents and also to educate her 4 other elder brothers. She lives with Her husband is aged 34 years and 2 other children aged 12 and 9 who were left by the previous wife of her husband. Her daily routine involves waking up at 5:00 to prepare breakfast for the 12 year old child who goes to school and in class 2.The 9year old girl was supposed to start school in the beginning of the year but she has not started as she assists her mother in herding the goats .

Display of beadwork She always looks up to meeting other women in the market and has made it part of her routine to go to Archers post market even if she does not need to make purchases. She always returns to the house at 10:00 and the first thing she does is fetching water from the water kiosk which they buy at KES 5 per 20 litre bottle. She then prepares lunch at 11:00 before the child from school arrives for lunch. The afternoon is her work station time where she starts her beading and she has taught the 2 children aged 9 and 12 and they always assist her whenever they are home in the afternoon. The beads are always bought by tourist who come to the village to be entertained by the Samburu cultural dances where they always wear the beads and display the rest. Saturday is the market day and they take their beads to Archers post market together with the livestock for sale. The beads range from Kes 50 to Kes 500 depending on the size of the beads and the buyer as the tourists always buy the beads at a higher price Samburu Manyatta in Sereolipi Dreams & Aspirations Her main source of information are the women at the market who always enlighten her on how to take care of her children and savings for their education and also investing as a Chama.

Sexual Behaviour

She admits that she had started having sex at the age of 12 years with the Morans when she was Conclusion herding the goats. She was the last born and was left to herd as her brothers went to school. She The main source of information is mouth to mouth had a Moran ‘boyfriend’ who would give her GreenHouse in Archers Post at the market place: She wants the best for her children and her step money in return for sex. At the age of 14 her • They have groups that they save, invest and children as he sees them as his own. She is a father introduced her to his widowed friend who talk about their children’s future – these can be victim of early marriage and would not like the finally married her after impregnating her. She did not having any information on contraceptives until leverage for information dissemination using same for her children. She would like to see that influencers within their circle all her children go to school and successfully she gave birth to her first child where the nurse complete their education irrespective of their introduced her to the depo which she has been • The nurses and medical practitioners are a gender. One of the child is not in school taking using since then without telling her husband who great influence to decisions on health and contraceptives – recruit known medical care of the herd but she says she will allow her to she says is violent and she would dare not even practitioners and create a revolving go to school the coming year speak about it. She is not willing to get any other child as for now she has 4 children under her care. community contraceptive action group. The They have a Chama of beadwork where each of action group can administer the contraceptives at the homes of the women as well as track them contributes 100 weekly for their welfare and Having been married to a 35 year old man who is those that have to do spacing; keep tabs of girls through the Chama they have a greenhouse where nor 39 years old she has other sexual partners who are about her age who they mostly meet in growing up; thus administer the contraceptives they plant tomatoes. She is also saving so that she when necessary to school going girls too would bring up a green house and maybe move the market. Her main concern is pregnancy from the Manyatta to a brick house. Porro Radar station situated at the highest point in Samburu College Student College Student

Introduction Her greatest motivation and admiration comes from a cousin who is not only working but also seems to have his life organized, he knows what he wants, how to get it and where and what to do.

Her worries revolve around the uncertainty in her future – when to complete her studies, get a job, getting school fees for each term, and achieving a level of self- reliance.

She is 22 years and a first-year college student at a local college in Maralal where she attends evening classes between 5.30 to 7.30PM daily. She is pursuing a diploma in tour guiding. During the day she works at the same college as a Her main sources of income are her parents with supplements from her side hustle secretary which is her side hustle. She hopes to get a job and friends. In her free time she enjoys going for a game drive with her friends at the immediately after school. She lives in Yare with her family Samburu Lodge, swimming, clubbing and drinking. Mostly for drinks, her and her which is about 10 kilometres from Maralal town. friends have preference for vodka which they buy the 750ml bottle (top choices are Her dreams are to get married after working for about 2-3 Smirnoff and Blue Moon) and share with choice mixers (e.g. Sprite, etc.). Their years and have 3-4 children. She says she is open to getting favourite hangout joint is Samburu Lounge and Yare Lounge which are all out of main married to either a Samburu or non-Samburu man. She is sure town. This is because they walk home, their preference revolves around locations out her family would also be open to her marrying a non-Samburu of town towards home such that with Yare lounge being the last stop over for the man. What she is sure of is that she does not want a co-wife night is within short walking distance from home. Mainly they go out on Friday’s after because even the dad has a single wife with whom they have the evening lesson with a mix of friends from school and out of school. 5 children. Fading culture

She feels that being born within proximity of an urban centre and her parents having gone to school has contributed to who she is today. To this end she feels some of the cultural practices are slowly fading away. These include: ‘Shanga’: growing up she did not wear shanga Relationship and sex Education: her and all her siblings were but rather wears them now as part of beauty enrolled in school during occasions not as a mark of identity. Her conversations with her friends mainly revolve Additionally, the shanga around studies, hustle, money, sex and family planning. Some of the things they talk about in family planning include use and non-use of condoms, use of P2. Though she admits she does not know much about other family planning methods, she has heard her friends talk about some of the methods like injections and also heard there are those that have side effects. She and her boy friends have been dating for three years and within this times its only one that they did FGM: she was not made to undergo the Early marriage: her and her sisters are sure not use a condom and ended up buying a P2. Her cut but rather went through the they are not at risk of early marriage agreement with her boyfriend is that they have to alternative right of passage considering her parents are not only educated keep using the condom until when they are ready to but also her being the first born and is still in get serious then they will both go to the hospital and school and past the age of 20 she is convinced get advice on the best method for her to use. Female working & in business (20-24 years)

Salome outside her one bedroom house in Maralal Single mother, literate Introduction She was born from a family of 5 children and her mom was widowed. This meant that she did not get to go school. She does not want to deny her children a chance to go to school as she knows it’s the most important thing and gift she can give to them. Thus her greatest dream is to get a better and more comfortable life while also providing good education for her children. This is also in addition to her dreams for her kids to study up to college / university and become lawyers and doctors. Some of the challenges she has is taking care of her children during the days that she has to do night shift. As it is she takes the two children to her sister’s house and picks them up after work at around 10pm-11pm. This she feels is an inconvenience for her children as for now she is not in a position to hire a helper who can look after her children. Though she knows her sister is okay and happy to look after her Salome at her sister’s garden where she gets kales for selling in her grocery kiosk children, for her it’s about the hustle her children must go through and coping with the She is a single mother of two school going children, a girl aged movement to and from her sister’s place two to three times a week. 6 years and a boy aged 3 years. Her day starts early at 5.00am, she washes her face, lights the jiko, makes breakfast, prepares the children for school. She is cleaning officer at the Maralal County Hospital where on a typical week she works for at least 6 days a week on a shift system. She has been working at the hospital since March 2017 and she says this has greatly made a significant change in her life. Prior to the employment, she would make homemade liquid soap and sell, though in her view this had a downside of irregular income. This used to see her really struggle to keep up with school fees payment and rent. Currently she says the regular income from employment has seen her grow and stabilize as she can plan her growth. Presently, every evening and her off days she works at her grocery kiosk to supplement her income. Salome’s kitchen space in her one bedroom house CULTURE According to her, there are several things in their culture that has made Samburu women remain reserved. Some of these are:

• ‘Singira’- Girls are allowed to go and sleep in a different ‘singira’ within the area. Sometimes these ‘singira’ are used as meeting points between Morans and the ladies. If Morans visit the ‘singira’ at night in an unwarranted manner, the girls are at liberty to report them to the elders. This will see the Morans being taken to the forest and beaten as a form of • Mode of dressing – the ladies are expected to punishment by the elders. For many of the dress in a skirt and shuka to act as the top. girls it is at the ‘singira’ visits that they get However, as modernization slowly checks in the initiated into sexual behaviour. ladies are now allowed to wear tshirts beneath the shukas. Its important to note that all the skirts are expected to be below the knee in terms of length • Ladies relationship with elders (male) - • Father Daughter relationship – the girls are not ladies are expected to hold high respect expected to stay or sleep in the same house with for their elders though out their lives. the father thus a separate house called the This is exhibited through: ‘SINGIRA’ is built for them. If the girl is in the o When a lady / ladies are walking house and the father arrives she has to exit the on the road and see an elder they house with her face down. In case the girl needs are automatically expected to anything in the house while the dad is still in the walk on the other side of the road house she has to call the mom outside and send keep a significant distance from her whatever she needs from the house. All these the elder are signs of respect. o She cannot address the elders ❖ It is considered shameful for a girl to seat under any circumstances in close proximity to the father SEXUAL BEHAVIOR • Early pregnancy – the main places where the girls are exposed and end up engaging in sex. These are: o At the ‘singira’ o In the forest – during the day as girls go to the river they sometimes deviate and end up meeting with the Morans ass they herd cattle. Mostly the younger girls have sex with older Morans o In the bush – there are cultural festivals that are held at night where Morans and ladies sing, dance and celebrate in a night vigil. During these occasions the girls are also exposed to sexual behaviour ▪ If by any chance a girl gets pregnant, then it was a nightmare for any girl. This is because it is a taboo for a girl to get pregnant outside wedlock. Thus, it was usually upon the grandmothers to take care of it. Traditionally the grandmothers would take the girl deep into the forest. Dig a small shallow trench, place the girl there and using the elbow or the knee, press the girl’s lower abdomen until the girl aborts. After the process a mixture of herbs with cow or goat oil would be given to the girl to help clean the stomach. Unfortunately, the harsh process of using the knee or elbow using to have extremely negative effects on the victim; some of the girls would: • Die • Become invalids from then on • Get very sick

FADING CULTURES

All the same, it is good to know that some of the cultures of which most of them were considered oppressing especially to the woman are fading. Some of the fading cultures include:

✓ The girls can now live in the same house with the father. One of the plants whose traditionally are used as tissue Porro view point to the great Rift Valley where urban youth from Maralal go when they have money to spare