Childhood is often cut short by the blade of female genital mutilation (FGM) or the heavy chains of early and forced marriage, rites passed down as tradition, but rooted in control, silence and fear.
Although outlawed in Kenya in 2002 (FGM) and strengthened further in 2011, the practices stubbornly persist in remote pockets, sustained by deeply entrenched patriarchal beliefs and the desire to control female sexuality.
Behind the statistics are girls forced to trade classrooms for marriages, ambition for obedience, and potential for pain.
Global research paints a grim picture.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) classify FGM and forced marriage as severe human rights violations and forms of gender-based violence.
As of 2026, the WHO and UNICEF estimate that more than 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM. Disturbingly, 4.4 million girls were projected to be at risk between 2025 and 2026, over 12,000 girls every single day.
If the pace of intervention does not dramatically accelerate, 27 million more girls could be subjected to the practice by 2030.
Africa bears the heaviest burden, accounting for approximately 144 million cases, followed by Asia (80 million) and the Middle East (six million).
Behind these statistics are girls who flee their homes under the cover of darkness, choosing the uncertainty of the road over the certainty of pain.
But in the open plains of Oloitokitok, Kajiado County, hope has found a foothold, where fear ends, and hope begins.
Tucked away in this rugged landscape is Magnolia Camp, a non-profit organisation quietly changing the destiny of girls rescued from FGM and early marriage.
What began as a place of refuge has grown into something far more powerful, a centre where healing meets opportunity and where athletics becomes a bridge to a new life.
Magnolia empowers disadvantaged girls through sport, education and community support, helping them rediscover their worth and reimagine their futures.
Once traumatised and withdrawn, some of these girls now line up at Athletics Kenya competitions, wearing spikes instead of scars and chasing finish lines and not fleeing danger.
It is a rare sanctuary where broken spirits are rebuilt through routine, discipline and the liberating rhythm of running.
At the heart of Magnolia’s transformation into a budding athletics powerhouse is coach Andrew Lesuuda, a Nairobi-based police inspector whose passion for the sport is matched only by his compassion for the girls he mentors.
Lesuuda explains that the camp initially started as a rescue centre way back to protect young girls from forced marriages and FGM by a well-wisher from America, Darius Stuj.
“The camp started in 2014 as a rescue centre to protect young Maasai girls from forced early marriages and FGM by Darius Stuj, who is American,” Lesuuda explains.
For years, the mission was survival, rescue the girls, keep them safe, give them time to heal. Then, in 2020, an unexpected spark ignited a new path.
“Our sponsor loves running, and whenever he came to Kenya, he would go for jogs, and the girls would join. He saw that they were very talented, and in 2020, the idea of nurturing the talent came about, and plans were put in place to have a camp for athletics,” Lesuuda added.
As the camp slowly began to take shape, the sponsor and management began recruiting top coaches to nurture the young girls’ talents.
“I remember I was recruited in August 2022. Before joining them, I was the coach for the National Police Service (NPS) for four to five years. We had a camp in Ngong, and I am proud I was able to grow it to an even bigger camp,” Lesuuda says.
“At that time, they did not know much about athletics, so it was up to me to teach the young girls and nurture them.”
By 2023, construction began on a fully-fledged athletics camp in Oloitokitok, chosen deliberately for its high-altitude advantage.
“In 2023, they started building a camp in Oloitokitok. The area was chosen because of the good and favourable altitude for athletics.”
“We moved into the camp in August 2024, and in December last year, the camp was officially opened by Athletics Kenya senior vice president Paul Mutwii,” Lesuuda said.
But building champions required more than tracks and training plans. Many of the girls arrived broken by trauma, some withdrawn and others fearful, unsure if this new life would last.
“At first, it was a very big challenge because some of these girls had undergone trauma after being rescued from forced early marriages and FGM.”
“We had to be slow and patient with them and teach them accordingly.”
At Magnolia, care comes before competition. The girls are assured of food, shelter, schooling and emotional support; only then does training begin.
“At camp, they don’t lack anything, so we encourage them to focus on their academics and also developing their talents,” Lesuuda says.
While the camp initially focused on girls from the Maasai community, its reach has since expanded.
“The Maasai usually have an annual event called the Maasai Olympics. That is one of the places where we go to identify talent from the local community.”
“Our sponsor told us tostart recruiting talented girls from other regions, mostly during the school games.”
“We have been to the Rift Valley, Nyanza and Eastern, and we have been able to recruit some girls from those regions,” he notes.
Lesuuda highlighted that the camp has grown, with a range of support staff and a bold vision for the future.
“Right now, the camp has really grown. We have around 17 staff, two coaches, me included, two chefs, a matron, a physiotherapist and even teachers,” he said.
“What makes this camp different from any other camp out there is the fact that we are a non-profit organisation. If our athletes participate in events outside and win any money, we don’t take any cuts from that money like other camps. The athlete retains all her winnings.”
Further, the camp takes a keen interest in developing the girls’ academic prowess.
“We recruit girls from 12 years and then have them join school as we continue to build their talents. We have girls in both primary and secondary school. We even have some girls who have completed secondary school and have gotten scholarships. Two of them are now actually in Town Hall (an athletics club that offers athletes a chance to go to the US on athletics scholarships).”
Currently, Lesuuda says the camp has more than 45 athletes. “We have a little more than 45 athletes in camp, both sprinters and distance runners. Twelve of them are sprinters, whereas 30-plus are distance runners.”
“At camp, we have just a small track of about 80m, but there are plans already in place to secure land to build an even bigger track for training.”
Life at Magnolia follows a disciplined but nurturing rhythm.“The girls wake up at 5:30 am, pray and then go for their morning run, usually around 7-8km. After that, they come back, take their breakfast, and at 7:30 am, we take them to school because we have a bus at camp.”
“We have two public schools where we take the girls: AIC Oloitokitok girls’ secondary and AIC Oloitokitok primary.”
“After school, we pick the girls up at 4 pm, then have some training till around 6 pm. From 6:30 to 8 p.m., the girls have classes, then take their supper,” he said.
Training is structured carefully to sharpen different aspects of the athletes. “On Mondays, we do hill work, Tuesdays are for speed work or Fartlek. On Wednesdays, we do general exercises, on Thursday, we do speed work again, and on Friday, we do long runs.”
Among Magnolia’s shining examples is Josephine Sembeyo, a 19-year-old middle-distance runner and the camp’s pioneer athlete.
“Sembeyo is actually the pioneer of the camp. When Magnolia first started as a rescue base, the area where it was located neighboured Sembeyo’s home. So she took interest in what the Mzungu (Darius Stuj) used to do, that’s running, and eventually she was recruited into the camp.”
“We talked to her parents, and they agreed for her to join us.”
Last year, Sembeyo, an 800m and 1,500m athlete, made strides by making the team Kenya for the African Under-18/Under-20 championships in Abeokuta, Nigeria, in July, representing Kenya in the 800m.
“She was actually the very first girl to make team Kenya at the African U-20 championships. However, she did not have a good competition because this was her first time in such a major tournament.”
“We saw that she had very big potential from her participation in Nigeria. All that was needed was to nurture that talent.”
Sure enough, Sembeyo used the Nigerian exploits to her advantage at the August East African School games in Kakamega County.
“Sembeyo won silver in the 800m at the East African games last year in Kakamega. We handled her appearance in Nigeria as a learning curve, and the fruits of her hard work paid off.”
At the East African School games, Sembeyo stopped the clock in 2:13.4 over 800m to finish behind compatriot Judy Kemunto (2:07.9).
Apart from those two competitions, Lesuuda says they have been using the Betika BingwaFest to gauge her form.
“We have also been taking her to the BingwaFest so that she can get more experience and also learn.”
On January 17, Sembeyo participated in the second Athletics Kenya weekend meeting at the Thika Stadium, featuring in both the 800m and 1,500m.
Over two laps, Sembeyo finished second, clocking 2:07.7 behind Emmily Jerop (2:06.7) with Alice Ekiru (2:08.3) in third place.
In the metric mile, Sembeyo once again placed second, crossing the finish line in 4:18.2 behind Mercy Chepng’eno (4:13.8).
Despite her second-place finish, Sembeyo said she was targeting victory in the 1,500m.
“My target was to win with a good time, but it did not happen, so I am going back to training to sharpen my speed,” Sembeyo said after her race.
The teenage sensation revealed that consistent training and following the coach’s advice were the key to good results.
“The secret is training hard, listening to your coach, respecting them and following their programme, that’s the secret to good results.”
After her maiden appearance in team Kenya last year, Sembeyo is dreaming even bigger, looking to don Kenya’s singlet once again at the World U-20 championships in Eugene.
“After Nigeria, I learnt about perseverance. I understood that failure is part of the journey and it moulds you. This year, my target is to be the best in the World U-20 championships in both 800m and 1,500m,” she said.
As one of the top athletes at the Magnolia camp, Sembeyo said she encourages and tries to push the rest.
“I encourage the other girls to work hard. I am like a role model to them. We are looking to have four or five at the World U-20. In two years to come, Magnolia will be one of the best camps in the country.”
She further heaped praise on her coach, Lesuuda, noting that he was the key to her growing success.
“I thank my coach Lesuuda because if not for him, I would not be able to be where I am or even make the Team Kenya last year.”
Lesuuda echoed Sembeyo’s sentiments, noting that he is working on having Sembeyo make the team for the World U-20.
“We are now focusing on the World U-20. From the race in Thika, which showed us which areas to focus on in training ahead of the national trials.”
Lesuuda says that talks from Athletics Kenya and the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) have been instrumental in shaping the girls.
“We usually have AK and ADAK come to talk to the girls sometimes. This has been very important because it teaches the girls what to do to have successful careers.”
He hopes to have top female athletes visit the camp and hold talks with the girls.
“I am also planning to have the NPS athletes come and have a talk with the girls just to motivate and encourage them.”
by TEDDY MULEI
