Drogba, widely recognized in Kenya due to his stint at English Premier League (EPL) club Chelsea, expressed his desire to visit and shared a video of girls from the Samburu Girls Foundation thanking him for his support.
Samburu Girls Foundation was established by one of Kenya’s foremost women rights campaigners, Josephine Kulea, and is credited with saving over 1,000 young girls from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage.
“Hi Drogba, thank you for supporting Samburu Girls Foundation. Welcome to Kenya, we love you,” the beaming girls praised in the video.
“Can’t wait to come visit you my Samburu girls. Josephine Kulea, can’t thank you enough for dedicating your heart for these beautiful girls. Keep up the great work,” Drogba responded.
Kulea established the foundation in 2012, having been saved from forced marriage as a child in Samburu.
The foundation works with a network of informants from around Samburu, Laikipia and Isiolo who tip them off about cases of the illegal practice after which it intervenes accompanied by police.
Over the years, the foundation has faced threats, harassment and opposition from some politicians and even curses from community elders.
For her work, Kulea has been recognized by many organisations and even received a Head of State Commendation (HSC) in 2012.
In response to Drogba’s message, she tweeted: “Thank you my friend Didier Drogba. Looking forward to hosting you at Samburu Girls Foundation soon. Welcome to Kenya!”
Although great strides have been made in eliminating FGM in Kenya, the practice as well as early, forced marriages, are still rampant in some areas.
The stigma associated with not being circumcised in these communities, for example, has led many girls to live in fear due to the repercussions of refusing the cut would have in their social and family lives.