How female Mombasa activist saved young girls from pregnancies, drug abuse

The circulation and use of heroin and bhang had reached alarming levels.

Women leadership and education were undermined because girls were only allowed to marry and start a family.

Some were forced to drop out of school because society considered it a waste of time and money.

The highest level of education a girl could attain was a secondary certificate as most families prioritised the education of boys.

Binti Ali Kiza, a Mombasa-based activist, said many girls had been brainwashed to focus solely on marriage and believed their role was to serve men.

Hopes were dashed as the lack of empowerment for girls persisted due to outdated traditions, cultures and misleading religious scripts.

Kiza decided to form an organisation, Sauti ya Wanawake, to empower girls.

Initially, the group comprised 50 women who called themselves Kongamano La Wanawake.

The organisation mainly targeted Likoni and Kisauni in Mombasa because cases of teen pregnancies, drugs and substance abuse were high.

However, the NGO has grown to become one of the most well-known girls and women’s rights organisations in the region.

“I founded the organisation primarily to rescue girls. They were like puppets with no voice of their own,” Kiza said.

The organisation serves all six coastal counties, empowering women and girls in advocacy, politics, governance and human rights. They also raise awareness about gender-based violence.

Thousands of girls have been saved through the organisation, with many growing into respected women and holding highly coveted roles.

“We have MPs, MCAs, KDF, police officers and some at the Kenya Ports Authority, whom I mentored through this project,” Kiza said.

Awareness campaigns

Kiza said through the organisation, she was able to reach out to many young mothers and teens via community dialogues and school activism clubs.

Both male and female students are educated about sexual abuse and reporting through the right channels.

Kiza said the initiative was successful since many girls found the courage to demand and fight for their education and human rights.

“It reached a time where the oppressed girls looked for me. Every day, I could handle at least 20 cases,” she said.

Kiza said she encouraged young mothers to return to school and seek justice through the courts.

She assisted some with business ideas and connected them with donors and government development programmes.

Kiza ensures girls who need support get education bursaries and sponsorships.

She has also established a desk for marriage conflict resolution and reconciliation.

She said before the organisation was formed, many marriages were on the verge of falling apart and many women and men were subjected to various forms of abuse, which they tolerated, knowingly or unknowingly.

“I saved many marriages from dissolution, oppression was rampant, and people had no idea that certain actions were a violation of their rights,” she said.

Support

Kiza started the organisation for charity and rarely makes any money, but is happy to bring change to society.

Sometimes she goes the extra mile by using her own money to work on  GBV cases.

Kiza said her activism stems from the desire to protect girls, promote their growth and advocate gender equality.

She wants girls to achieve what she couldn’t as family obligations prevented her from pursuing her education after Form 4.

Her father died when she was young and she got married and had three children, but one died. Kiza has three grandchildren.

Her husband supports her initiative and occasionally joins her to address some of the issues.

“I am grateful my husband has given me all the support I need to make the project a success,” she said.