Ms. Eunice Mariama - Reto Women Association of Kenya (affiliated
with Minority Rights Group)
Thank Madam Chair and all protocol of that.
I come from Kenya, my name is Eunice Mariama come from [Great Rift
Valley] an area inhabited by the Maasai people and known as the only
minority among the Kenyan government officially.
While I agree with this recommendation, I would like to make the
following and I am [...] my recommendation on number 28. I would like to
thank you for giving us beautiful working document that will work as a
guideline for the people in pastoralism area and who practice nomadic as
part of livelihood.
However, when we talk about accessing education for all, it may not be
quite possible for Maasai girl child or for a Maasai child. Because we talk
abut infrastructure if we have to have a meaningful education, you need
support services to be able to give these children equal opportunities. And
because we have got no equal distribution of resources the infrastructure
on the ground is not there. And if there is no infrastructure on the ground,
of course, it translates into inequality. So it is not fair for the same
document to use this as a benchmark for achieving quality education. And
it is not attainable at the moment, and I would refer that and recommend
that we get closer supervision from the government arms and agencies
that are interested in the minority groups.
We have a word called “nomadism” which I see it and we call it moving up
and down. Nomadism among my tribe is the order of the day, children that
are entitled to go to school are get torn their animals from their home and
school and their priorities are reviewed by the hour. Whether they should
be going to school or they should go to attend the animals. Children
therefore need to be [...] and separated from their families during school
term. I am recommending that the provision of boarding schools will be an
ideal option. Where proper school [fitting] supplementary boarding school
would be… the program would be enhanced and issue of poverty would be
addressed.
I am told the time is up.