Cynthia Taruru's remarkable 10-year journey from arranged marriage to academic success
Cynthia Taruru when she spoke to Nation.Africa on December 9, 2024 in Narok town. She was rescued from FGM and marriage at the age of 13, and taken to a rescue centre where she was able to get an education. education.
What you need to know:
- Cynthia Taruru, escaped FGM and early marriage at age 13 with help from her elder sister, finding refuge at a rescue centre where she lived for 10 years.
- Despite initial opposition from her father who had betrothed her at age three, she pursued her education and recently graduated from Mount Kenya University.
- Through her journey from near-child bride to educated professional, Cynthia now advocates for the Maasai community to abandon harmful cultural practices and prioritise girls' education.
At just three years old, Cynthia Taruru's future was already mapped out in the traditional Maasai customs of the Maasai in Narok County. Like many girls in her community, she was betrothed through an arranged marriage before she could even understand what marriage meant.
A decade later, as Cynthia sat in her Class Seven classroom dreaming of her future, her father was making very different plans. The time had come, he decided, for his 13-year-old daughter to undergo female genital mutilation and join her much older husband-to-be. But fate had other plans, woven through the courage of her elder sister, Jerita Lasoi.
"If it were not for my elder sister, I would not be where I am today. I was too young to know what to do," Cynthia recalls, her voice soft but steady as she shares her story.
Under the cover of darkness one night, Jerita orchestrated an escape for Cynthia and their younger sister. The girls found sanctuary at the Mission with a Vision (MWV) rescue centre. What began as an emergency shelter would become their home for the next decade.
"Many of us now have a different story compared to those who were not as lucky and were circumcised and married off," Cynthia reflects, her eyes bright with gratitude for the twist of fate that changed her life's trajectory.
Within the rescue centre's protective walls, Cynthia's educational journey flourished. She scored 331 marks in her primary school examinations and earned her place at Ole Tipis Girls' High School. Though she initially dreamed of becoming a nurse, struggles with mathematics led her down a different path – one that would eventually lead to a diploma in Supply Chain Management from Mount Kenya University.
But the path to freedom came with its own shadows. Depression crept in during the long days away from home, particularly when she thought of her mother. Occasionally, Cynthia and her sister would make secret visits to see their mother, careful to avoid their father's detection.
Cynthia recently graduated with a diploma in Supply Chain Management from Mount Kenya University.
Time, however, has a way of softening even the hardest hearts.
"When I was in my second year in college, I would fall sick quite often, and he said it was because of a curse he had invoked on me," Cynthia shares, wiping away tears as she recounts those difficult days. "But eventually he loosened up and said he had forgiven me. Things have since gotten better and I have recovered."
As she speaks about her past, emotions overflow, and she pauses occasionally to compose herself. These tears carry the weight of years of tension, fear, and finally, triumph.
"I want to assure my father that it was not in vain that I ran away from home," she says with conviction. "I am a better person prepared to face the challenges the world presents."
Looking back at her village, Cynthia's voice grows serious as she describes the reality for many Maasai girls. "God worked miracles for me through the Mission with a Vision centre. Had I not been rescued, I would have been subjected to female genital mutilation and married off for dowry. I would be a mother with several children by now."
Her voice cracks as she advocates for change within her community. "You can imagine a situation where at three years of age, a parent is already planning for the marriage of their daughter; opening up courtship with would-be suitors who would take over their lives in a few years, instead of educating and protecting them."
Now armed with her diploma, awarded on December 6, 2024, Cynthia's dreams have expanded beyond her own success.
"I am looking forward to securing a job, upgrading my education standards, and changing the status of my family. I endeavour to make my mum and dad proud that the decision to pursue education at the expense of cultural practices was the best course of action."
Her message to her community rings clear: "Education will enable girls to open their perspective about life, make independent, important decisions on their lives in the future. It is not right to stick to a culture where girls are made wives and mothers at a very young age, thus risking their lives."
Cynthia's story stands as a beacon of hope, illustrating how the space for girls' advancement in the Maasai community is gradually expanding. Women are increasingly taking up leadership positions once reserved for men, proving that change, though slow, is possible when brave individuals dare to chart a new course.
