Holding pen transforming Maasai women
Kajiado, Kenya April, 2010- On a Sunday afternoon in the heart of Kajiado district which inhabits the Maasai community, women converge in a classroom each armed with tools aimed at transforming their lives. All are eager to hold correctly pen and scribble their names. “My eleven year old daughter and teachers have been very helpful in my education” narrated Margaret Gideon Komeiyan one of the beneficiary of the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church (KELC) women literacy program.
Margaret (29) started attending the KELC adult education program in 2009 after motivation from one of his educated brother. “I used to admire him a lot when he came home for holidays…he would encourage me to learn”- she narrated. Many Maasai women her age were forced into early marriage. She got married off at 11 years. Educating girls among the Maasai community is not given preference as that of boys; a trend quickly changing thanks to literacy programme initiated by the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran church.
Started in 1998 by support from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), KELC women Literacy program reach out to more than 300 women and girls in marginalized areas mainly occupied by Maasai community. Further boost of the program came in 2004 with funds from the division of ELCA World Hunger which helped train more teachers and additional classes in other areas.
Currently 37 adult educators have been trained and run the program as volunteers. “I want to see my community change”-stressed Beatrice Rimanto one of the adult education volunteer at the Kajiado centre. The Kenya National Literacy Survey indicates that 7.8 million people in Kenya are illiterate (mostly women) and the national literacy level stands at 61.5%.
Despite commitment and interest to learn, many women are faced with gender-roles that challenge their frequent class attendance. “Absenteeism is rampant, their concentration in class gets interrupted …some come with young children”- lamented Beatrice. Many walk up to 20 kilometers in order to attend class, which at times is called off, since they share same facilities with other students in the school. Some are overwhelmed and discontinue their learning. “I share examples of people who have made it and encourage them to attend school daily” said Beatrice.
Besides basic education, women are educated on their Rights to challenge negative cultures such as early marriages and Female Genital Cut both common practice among the Maasai community.

Education eradicating poverty
The traditional women’s spare time beading activity has been over-taken by pursuit for education especially in the Ilparua area of Kajiado. A shift that proves equally beneficial to many who have established businesses from the basic knowledge of mathematics, Kiswahili and English taught in class. “I used to give all my business money to my husband…didn’t know if I made profit or not”- lamented one student in the class. On contrary, she now manages her own business and is able to determine profits margins. Poverty levels among the women in Kajiado has reduced owing to literacy levels and ability to manage own businesses. Their motivation and determination in education has resulted in opening bank accounts which they run without any help. “I used to use thump print at bank, this days, I sign my name”-smiled Mary.
The impact of Adult education in Kajiado is also felt by the local pastor. “The women have increased their offerings threefold, we now receive thrice what we used to”-said Samuel Ntatuya Evangelist heading Kajiado mission. A fact he attributes to training women on book keeping and their commitment to paying 10% tithe.
With the shortage of church workers in KELC, women with reading and writing skills come handy as church laypersons; they participate in worship service by reading bible verses.
“My life has changed, I can offer my children what I missed (good education) and nurture them spiritually by reading the bible” said Margaret a mother of three.

Challenge in realization of literacy decade
The United Nation Literacy Decade proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001 runs from 2003-2012 and has strong commitments to reaffirm role of literacy in development. To realize the literacy decade priorities were set on illiterate youth and adults especially women, out-of school children especially girls and children in school without access to quality learning.
Though Kenya is not a beneficiary of UNLD Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE) program which runs in 35 countries with illiterate people below 50%; two-third of illiterate people in Kenya are women and girls, who influence development both in the family level and community at large.
KELC Literacy program face enormous challenges in the journey towards literacy for all women. “We (KELC) have trained adult educators but are unable to employ them due to funds”-lamented Alice Mwaringa KELC Women’s co-ordinator. “During rainy season, women are forced to work in farms at the expense of their education” Noted Alice.
She added that access to reading materials and books for adult learns hinder survival of the literacy program in KELC. The road to realization of literacy is made even tough by patriarchal communities such as that of the Maasai. Alice lamented that men in such communities deny their wives opportunity to attend literacy classes opposed to the wishes of their wives. Literacy among women may be elusive if collaborative efforts are not put in place to address the challenges inhibiting success on Free Education for All.