In 2003, the Kenyan government made primary education—kindergarten to year eight—free. This significantly increased enrolment. In 2008, secondary education—year nine to 12—was made free. In some regions of Kenya, gender inequality and poverty run high. Only a fraction of girls who enroll in year one make it through year eight. Of those, even fewer go on to high school. This is the case in the Masai Mara.

Although education is “free”, families are still responsible to pay for textbooks, uniforms, and teacher salaries. Students in upper primary years at the Oloolaimutia School often board there. All high school students from the area must travel several hours to school and pay for food, lodging and transportation.

Many Masai families cannot afford the costs associated with education. And, families that can afford to send some of their children to school often choose to send their sons. They believe that a girl will become part of her husband’s family, and that their family will not benefit from the investment in their daughter’s education.

Some families are reluctant to contribute financially to a girl’s education because a Masai man’s wealth is often measured in cattle and children. If cows are sold to pay for school fees, then wealth is diminished. Having many children and paying for education of both boys and girls diminishes the number of cows owned.