Climate Change and FGM among the Maasai Communities in Kenya

We are presenting an article written in 2021 by Tammary Esho, Everlyne Komba, Fabienne Richard, and Bettina Shell-Duncan that seeks to elucidate the effect of climate change on changing social and gender norms, as well as FGM practices among the Maasai of Kajiado County.

The study argues that broader socio-ecological factors act as barriers to changing social norms among the Maasai of Kajiado. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt a multilevel intersectional approach when designing programs to end FGM. Contextual social, economic, and environmental factors should not be overlooked when tailoring FGM intervention programs.

Recurring droughts in Kenya have led to severe crop failures and water shortages, dramatically affecting pastoralist communities such as the Maasai, who have long depended on livestock herding as their primary livelihood. With rivers and lakes drying up and pasturelands becoming barren, many herders are forced to migrate long distances, sometimes even to urban areas like Nairobi, in search of water and grazing land. The loss of livestock—a crucial economic asset—has plunged many families into extreme poverty, increasing their reliance on harmful coping mechanisms.

In regions such as Saitamurt, child marriage is often used as a survival strategy. Families marry off young girls to wealthier households to ensure their daughters have access to basic needs and to receive financial support in the form of dowries. In many cases, undergoing FGM is a prerequisite for marriage, further entrenching the practice within these communities.

Climate change disproportionately affects women and girls, especially in marginalized communities. Limited access to education and formal employment increases their vulnerability, leaving them dependent on traditional societal structures. Without alternative economic opportunities, families under economic stress perceive marriage—and, by extension, FGM—as a means of securing their daughters’ futures.

Additionally, administrative authorities in affected regions have reported that the economic strain caused by climate change is pushing families to make desperate choices, including “secretly cutting and marrying off girls, sometimes even across the border. It has become a survival mechanism.” Some Maasai girls, in search of food and water, cross into neighboring Tanzania, where FGM rates remain high, increasing their risk of being subjected to the practice.

Poor infrastructure and limited access to schools further heighten the vulnerability of girls in climate-affected regions. In Kajiado County, many schools struggle to retain female students due to the increasing demands on girls to fetch water, collect firewood, and manage household tasks, especially when male family members migrate with livestock. The lack of educational opportunities contributes to higher dropout rates and reinforces traditional practices, including FGM.

Reports indicate that during periods of extreme drought, families prioritize their immediate survival over long-term investments such as education. Without a robust support system, including economic incentives to keep girls in school, the cycle of early marriage and FGM is likely to persist.

In conclusion, this study highlights that the prevalence of FGM and child marriage among the Maasai of Kajiado County may be largely perpetuated by the poorly understood intersections between climate change and widening gender inequalities. These inequalities render girls and women more vulnerable to harmful practices and socio-economic disempowerment due to a lack of education.

The full article can be read here.