Northern Girls Breaking Barriers Through Education

By Njeri Irungu

For girls growing up in some of Kenya’s most marginalised communities, access to education can determine whether they remain trapped in cycles of poverty or gain an opportunity to build a different future.

A new book, She Is Rising From The North, captures the stories of girls from Northern Kenya whose lives have been transformed after receiving support to remain in school and pursue higher education.

The book, authored by Hildah Kathure, documents the journeys of young women who have progressed from challenging circumstances to careers in medicine, education, science, security, livestock management and other fields.

Kathure says the project was inspired by her experiences working with communities in Northern Kenya, where she encountered talented girls whose ambitions were often threatened by poverty, limited educational opportunities and social pressures.

For many families in the region, the cost of keeping a child in school can be prohibitive, particularly where households are already struggling to meet basic needs.

The situation is particularly difficult for girls, who may also face pressure to leave school and take on domestic responsibilities or other roles that limit their chances of pursuing their ambitions.

Through her work with the Netherlands-based MOV Foundation, Kathure has supported hundreds of girls through secondary education, with others receiving assistance to pursue college and university studies.

The impact of that support is reflected in the stories of women featured in the book, including professionals who have returned to serve their communities after benefiting from educational opportunities.

Dr Zeinab Gura, whose story is featured in the book, rose to become a medical professional and chief executive of Kenyatta Teaching and Referral Hospital, illustrating the possibilities that can emerge when girls are given the opportunity to continue their education.

Veterinary doctor Kamila Abkanu, who serves as Acting Director of Livestock in Isiolo County, is another woman whose career demonstrates how education can connect directly to the needs of communities.

The book also highlights girls who are still on the journey. Their stories show that the impact of educational support is not only measured by completed degrees but also by the ambitions it creates among younger generations.

Among them is Grade Eight pupil Zeituna Kunu, who dreams of becoming a doctor after losing her mother to an illness she says she did not understand and could not prevent.

Kathure believes these stories demonstrate why investment in girls’ education should go beyond simply keeping children in classrooms, extending to creating opportunities that allow them to complete their studies and enter the workforce.

She Is Rising From The North ultimately presents education as a bridge between potential and opportunity, documenting how supporting one girl can create benefits that extend to her family, community and generations that follow.