The martial arts classes kicking out gender-based violence in northern Kenya
Teenagers in Samburu County demonstrate Tong-Il Moo-Do self-defence techniques at the Camel Derby Festival in Yare. The young people are being trained in the martial art as part of efforts to fight gender-based violence in the region.
What you need to know:
- A Korean martial art is transforming lives in Samburu, where girls once silenced by fear are now kicking, striking, and standing up to gender violence
- Martial arts has become a tool for self-defence and empowerment, helping children confront GBV and challenge oppressive traditions.
Under the scorching midday sun at Yare Camel Camp in Maralal, Samburu County, barefooted girls and boys move in near-perfect rhythm—their sharp kicks slicing the air, their voices rising in synchronised shouts of strength and focus.
Dressed in crisp white uniforms and coloured belts, they are practising Tong-Il Moo-Do, a Korean martial art that has found an unlikely but powerful new purpose in northern Kenya: fighting gender-based violence (GBV).
At the heart of this transformation is Brilliant Feminine, a women-led empowerment initiative partnering with the Kenya Tong-Il Moo-Do Federation. Together, they are arming girls not only with self-defence techniques but also with the psychological resilience to resist harmful traditions and challenge violence in their homes and communities.
During a recently concluded Maralal camel derby, the Kenya Tong-Il Moo-Do Federation and the community-based organisation Brilliant Feminine showcased how martial arts can become a powerful force in combating gender-based violence, which remains rampant in Samburu.
Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Rebecca Miano, who graced the event as chief guest, lauded the initiative, calling it an inspiring example of innovation in community empowerment. “I am impressed by the creativity of using martial arts to build confidence and resilience, especially among girls and boys, in fighting GBV,” she said.
Tong-Il Moo-Do, which integrates elements of karate, taekwondo, and judo, emphasises discipline, respect, and unity. Reports indicate that many teenagers in Samburu experience physical or sexual violence during their lifetime. Cases of child marriage, domestic abuse, and sexual assault often go unreported because of stigma and cultural silence.
Brilliant Feminine seeks to break that silence. According to Halima Abdikadir, the organisation’s executive director and co-founder, the programme offers a safe space for girls to share their experiences, learn their rights, and develop both physical and psychological defence strategies.
“While preventing gender violence involves strong laws, empowerment programmes like these are key,” Halima explains. “When these youngsters learn to defend themselves, they stop seeing themselves as victims — they become change-makers.”
During the demonstration, Kenya Tong-Il Moo-Do Assistant Secretary-General Elvis Malipe ole Mpakuanik, alongside instructors Salma Ali Abdallah and Lona Apiyo Abiero, highlighted that trainees acquire a blend of power, balance, and discipline—core elements of Tong-Il Moo-Do.
Mr Malipe said the training equips participants with self-defence skills while building mental strength, confidence, and teamwork—crucial tools for resisting violence. “We’re not just teaching the youngsters how to fight physically,” he said. “We’re teaching techniques that empower them to stand up against all forms of violence.”
He also announced the launch of a new Tong-Il Moo-Do club in Samburu County, a milestone aimed at making martial arts accessible to more community members. “The club will serve as a training centre and a safe space for girls and boys to learn self-defence, leadership, and personal development,” he explained. “We hope to recruit as many as possible.”
In Samburu, girls face immense pressure to marry early and bear children, while GBV remains widespread in rural villages. Young girls in pastoralist regions are frequently exposed to mistreatment, exploitation, and early pregnancies — outcomes often rooted in cultural practices that deny them agency.
Social norms
Anti-GBV campaigners note that adolescent pregnancies are rarely a matter of choice; instead, they stem from deeply entrenched social norms that strip girls of control over their own lives.
Meanwhile, Samburu West Member of Parliament Naisula Lesuuda has condemned the surge in gender-based violence and femicide, calling for urgent and decisive action to protect women and children. “Violence has become a crisis,” she said. “Women and children are being exposed to abuse, and in some cases, death.”
Her remarks followed the horrific killing of two children in Maralal by their father, Daniel Otieno Odero, who reportedly slit their throats as they slept beside their mother before fleeing.
“As a nation, we are judged by how we treat our women and children,” the MP said. “If you are fed up with your wife, just leave — don’t harm innocent children.”
According to the United Nations, gender-based violence encompasses acts that inflict physical, sexual, or psychological harm, coercion, and restrictions on personal freedom. It has long-term consequences on survivors’ physical, sexual, and mental health — and on the social wellbeing of entire communities.
