It is Chepkite’s first time presiding over the rites of passage graduation ceremony since her appointment to the cabinet as head of Youth Affairs,in West Pokot, her county of birth. It is a magnificent moment. Not long ago, the idea of her, a woman,in such a key position of leadership,speaking to men,morans and elders would have been laughable if not unthinkable. Yet here she was,young, a graduate and a leader. Now,she has an income,the respect of her community and the expertise to effect positive change. A fate denied to thousands of women and girls in her community born just a few years before her.

Africa has recently been declared FGM free!No case of female genital cutting has been reported anywhere on the continent in the last decade. Chepkite lets out an inaudible sigh of relief. The multi-stakeholder efforts and campaigns paid off and it took both men and women working together to end the harmful vice.

In the past,the school holidays were a nightmare for young girls. Despite government efforts in enforcing legislation aimed to protect the rights of children and criminalizing of FGM, the practice prevailed in secret.The affected girls were then married off young and had to drop out of school. They endured difficult births,many died during delivery and even more had to nurse lifelong health challenges.FGM was not only embedded in culture as the only rite of passage to womanhood, it was also safeguarded by men, the decision makers and custodians of culture.

Today,Chepkite arrives at the ceremony to a vibrant welcome.She is received by Chemtai, a student leader set to graduate from her ‘baking for profit’ class today. Chepkite’s arrival marks the official start of the day’s activities.Young boys and girls showcase skills learnt in the month-long training during the school holiday;an initiative of the local government.

As she delivers her speech later in the day,Chepkite is keen to remind the audience of how far they have come. Today young girls do not live in the fear of being harmed by those tasked to protect them. Instead, they are taught a harmonious transition to adulthood. In this ceremony, two hundred young girls and their male peers are awarded certificates for training in leadership,communication,crafts,music and entrepreneurship. It’s a new dawn for Africa and these young people are its custodians.