Rescue and Rehabilitation

Marriage & Rescue

Two Maasai cousins were propelledinto two different fates bycircumstance. Naanyu Sekut,whose age we approximated ataround 13, married a man morethan 20 years her senior. SeleyianSekut, whose slender body andsmall stature puts her at around10, was rescued from her husband,and is now under the care andjurisdiction of the TasaruSafehouse for Girls.

When we met her, Naanyu waspetulant and often times tearful.She was leaving her family andchildhood friends for the first andlast time. We were later told thatthe tears were customary and asign of respect. A stoic child wouldbe considered cold and an ingrate.As she was escorted out of herfather’s village however, it becameapparent that her grief was morethan superficial. She wasinconsolable. She would no longerable to see or visit the only peopleshe knew her entire life unlesspermitted by her husband,.

Naanyu enters the groom’s villagewelcomed by a barrage of verbalhazing from the women andchildren. All of this is said to becustomary. It’s hard to decipherwhether she takes any of the“insults” at heart. Though she isstill crying, we were again told thateverything happening before us

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was “tradition.”

Tradition dictates that Naanyu’sfather may enter a pact with Seneude Sironik. After Seneu settled thecost of the girl’s circumcision anddowry, Naanyu would become hisbride. If there was a slim chancethat she would receive aneducation before this deal, thatpossibility was no longer. Herduties as wife and eventuallymother would take precedence.Her immediate task, after thewedding festivities, was to buildher own hut out of cow dung andmud. After a few days her husbandwould visit her and consummatethe union. She may have visitors inher new house; otherwise, shesleeps there— a child and wife—alone in a new village of strangers.

Naanyu’s cousin, Seleyian, alsostarts her new life at the rescuecenter among strangers.

She felt alone and confused. Shewas pulled from her husband’svillage by a truckload of armedpolicemen who barely explainedthe situation to her. After a grossmistake, which resulted in herspending a night in jail, she wasthen released to the volunteers atthe safehouse. Like her, some ofthe girls at the safehouse wererescued from early marriage. Theones who escaped felt just asdeeply for her. Two girls close inage, Grace and Salula, sat quietlywith Seleyian as she wailedhysterically, begging for her

Bridegroom Seneu de Sironik in hisvillage.

Bridegroom Seneu de Sironik (right)arrives at his bride's village.

A Masaai villager displays thetraditional blade used to circumciseyoung girls.

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mother. In time, they slowlycalmed her down. Salula revealed,that like Seleyian, she too arrivedat the safehouse two years ago inher wedding garb. With that shareddetail, Seleyian’s hesitationgradually faded. She released herbelongings, cowhide dress andbeaded necklaces, to the girls whosubsequently bathed, dressed andgroomed her. “You’re going to likeschool,” Salula says “and you’regoing to like it here.

Five hours later the Tasaru girlswere dancing inside the mess hall,Seleyian was among the crowd ofnewfound friends.

Naanyu Sekut cries while her head is shaved in preparation for her wedding day August 12, 2007 in Kameli, Kenya.

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Naanyu Sekut cries while her head is shaved inpreparation for her wedding day.

Naanyu Sekut cries as she prepares to escort herhusband to his village on her wedding day.

Naanyu Sekut cries as she prepares to escort herhusband to his village on her wedding day.

Naanyu Sekut sits nearby her husband as they wait fora ride back to his village.

Naanyu Sekut joins her husband on a journey back tohis village.

Naanyu Sekut cries on her wedding day as she isescorted out of her village by her family to join herhusband.

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Naanyu Sekut enters her husband's village for the first time only to be greeted with the customary verbal hazing by the women and children.

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Naanyu Sekut follows behind her husband on a journey to his village.

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Claiming to be the father of the bride, Oloitiring'ai Sekut resists the efforts of Narok district police officers trying to take custody of a young girl.

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Massai villagers continue to obstruct the efforts of Narok district police officers tryingto take protective custody of a young girl who was wed the previous day.

Child bride, Seleyian Sekut is taken into protective custody by Narok district policeofficers after a raid on their village.

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Realizing she is being taken away from her village and family Seleyian Sekut begins to cry hysterically as police and rescue officials console her.

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Child bride, Seleyian Sekut and her husband, Olorpalaare escorted into the police station.

Child Bride Seleyian Sekut is comforted andquestioned by Tasaru volunteer Chris Kamamia insidethe police headquarters.

Child Bride Seleyian Sekut cries hysterically inside thepolice headquarters.

A confused Seleyian Sekut cries as she is led to courtfollowing the mistaken charge of being a runaway.

A confused Seleyian Sekut cries as she is led to courtfollowing the mistaken charge of being a runaway.

A confused Seleyian Sekut continues to cry afterarriving at the Tasaru Rescue Center.

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Still shy and apprehensive, Seleyian Sekut is welcomed by other rescued Maasai girls at the Tasaru Center.

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While Seleyian Sekut watches, a number of Tasaru girls untangle the wedding beads that Seleyian was wearing during her rescue.

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Seleyian Sekut pauses before heading to the girls' dormitory showers

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Rescue and Rehabilitation

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Transcript of Rescue and Rehabilitation