Girls leave school to support families in Homa Bay, Kenya
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In Homa Bay County, Kenya, 17-year-old Nora Achieng left school to work as a house help and care for her sick mother and siblings, a situation reflecting a larger crisis where many girls drop out of education due to poverty, family responsibilities, and early marriage.
Nora’s father earns money but spends it on alcohol, leaving the family without basic necessities. She sends most of her monthly salary home to cover food and medicine, sacrificing her own education in the process.
Data from Population Council Kenya shows that over 30 percent of girls in Homa Bay do not transition from primary to secondary school, despite girls often outperforming boys in primary school completion rates. The organization’s research revealed a lack of systemic support for girls facing these challenges, including poverty, defilement, and becoming heads of households.
County officials and researchers recently launched the Gender in Education Action Plan 2026 to 2030, a five-year framework designed to address these barriers and promote gender equality in education. The plan calls for increased community awareness of gender-based violence, improved access to education, and support for girls facing unique challenges such as teenage pregnancy and HIV-related orphanhood.
The Homa Bay County government committed to providing financial support for secondary and vocational education, recognizing the need to extend support beyond the primary level.
