Farhiya Dakane Abdi: Blazing a trail for women’s leadership in Garissa 

Garissa, in northeastern Kenya, lies six hours (367 km) from the capital Nairobi. Scorched by heat, its lifeline is the muddy Tana River, which winds along the edge of town, sustaining nearly 950,000 people. But this region is increasingly at the mercy of climate change, with floods and droughts wreaking havoc on already marginalised communities. 

The population in Garissa is predominantly of Somali origin, where cultural norms continue to restrict women’s access to education and expose them to harmful traditional practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM). Women in this region are among the most vulnerable and hardest to reach in all of Kenya. 

Since 2012, ActionAid Ireland has worked with women in the rural community of Kamuthe in Garissa through the Kamuthe Women’s Rights Network (KWRN) whichempowers women to claim their rights and confront gender-based violence and the impacts of climate change. 

What began as a small voluntary initiative has evolved into a dynamic collective of women who are informed, empowered, and unafraid to challenge harmful cultural norms. Through collaboration with elders, traditional leaders, and local authorities, they have cultivated an environment that supports women’s rights and nurtures social change. And nowhere is this transformation more visible than in the story of Farhiya Dakane Abdi. 

At 29, Farhiya exudes warmth, strength, and confidence. A Kenyan of Somali descent, Farhiya was orphaned at just two years old. Raised by her grandmother until the age of five, she found herself alone again after her grandmother’s death. Recognised for her intelligence, she was supported through primary and secondary school by the first woman elected as MP for Ijara Constituency. 

After completing school, Farhiya reunited with her older brother in Garissa, 16 years her senior. She moved in with him, his wife, and their seven children, taking on domestic responsibilities and helping care for the family’s small livestock. 

But a turning point came three years ago when she met Maka Kassim, the founder and treasurer of the Kamuthe Women’s Rights Network, who encouraged her to join the group as a volunteer. 

“Maka and ActionAid empowered me. She showed me that what a man can do, a woman can also do. Every time there was training, she called me. Before, I didn’t know my rights. Now I do,” Farhiya says. 

This journey of empowerment ignited a bold ambition, with Farhiya planning to stand as the first female Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Nanighi ward. In Kenya’s devolved government system, an MCA plays a crucial role in local governance and development. Farhiya also dreams of one day becoming a Women’s Representative in the National Parliament, where she can advocate for women and girls on a national scale. 

Farhiya credits her growth to the consistent support she received from ActionAid which gave her practical guidance and training that built her confidence and rights awareness. 

With two years until the next elections, Farhiya is actively campaigning while continuing her work with the network. She speaks at schools, engages youth through clubs, and mobilises women in her community to know their rights, access economic opportunities, and stand up against gender-based violence and discrimination. Her leadership has earned admiration not just from women, but also from men in her community, including her brother and nephew, and village elders. 

“When I go to bed at night, I dream of what ActionAid has done for me. They taught us to be good leaders and to stand on our own,” she reflects. 

With women like Farhiya leading the charge, the future for women in Garissa is bright. And the impact of the Kamuthe Women’s Rights Network—and of ActionAid’s support—is clearly seen in her rising star.