Esendi defies odds to become Fundisa’s first female assistant chief

Emily Esendi’s life has been one bumpy ride. Despite being a bright student, she had to drop out of school in Form 3 for lack of fees and got married in pursuit of a better life, but this too failed.

However, her never give up attitude, has seen her defy the odds to become the first female assistant chief in Kibao Cha Fundisa village in Kilifi county.

Born into a polygamous family of 23 children from the minority Watta community, Esendi faced immense challenges, including poverty, which forced her to drop out of school.

Esendi excelled in her KCPE exams in 2009, emerging the top-performing girl from her village. She was admitted to Ngala Girls’ Memorial in Watamu, but her parents could not afford the Sh70,000 per year boarding school fees.

“My mother had nine children, and I was the seventh born. My father had 23 children, all depending on him. The same year, two of us were to join secondary school, but it wasn’t possible because four other siblings were already in high school and college,” she said.

Fortunately, Esendi secured a full year scholarship from the constituency fund to join Form 1.

However, financial struggles resurfaced in the following years forcing her to rely on bursaries and casual jobs to pay her fees, often spending more time at home than in school.

By Form 3 in 2012, the burden became unbearable and she had to drop out in third term. As a result, she could not progress to Form 4 in 2013 to sit her KCSE exams.

“I dropped out of school a bitter girl. With nothing to do at home, I decided to get married in 2014 against my parents’ wishes. I wanted to give marriage a try,” she said.

She had her first child in 2014 and her second followed two years later. However, life in her husband’s home in Chonyi was difficult, as his family never fully accepted her due to her Watta heritage.

“The Watta are a minority community, and I faced rejection from the start,” she said.

After the birth of her second child, Esendi left her matrimonial home and returned to her parents in Fundisa, pleading for acceptance.

Back home, she formed a support group for teenage mothers called Young Mothers’ Forum, aimed at helping young women navigate the challenges of early motherhood.

Through this initiative, she connected with ActionAid and Sauti ya Wanawake, organisations that recognised her passion and appointed her as an ambassador and facilitator against teenage pregnancies.

Her advocacy took her to schools and villages, where she empowered teenage mothers who had lost hope after dropping out of school due to pregnancies.

She also travelled widely, attending workshops in Nairobi and beyond, and began earning allowances. After three years of community work, Esendi felt the urge to complete her secondary education–a decision met with skepticism.

“Many of my friends and relatives discouraged me, saying I was too old. But my elder brother supported me and encouraged me to register for the exam,” she said.

She enrolled at Marereni Secondary School, where she studied alongside much younger students. Undeterred, she persevered and scored a B+ (plus) in KCSE exams.

“Once again, I became the talk of the village–but this time, for the right reasons. My success changed societal perceptions, inspiring other girls who had dropped out to return to school or join vocational training,” she said.

Her academic excellence earned her a spot at Embu University to study Bachelor of Education. The community, proud of her achievements, rallied to support her education, raising more than Sh100,000 to facilitate her admission.

During the April 2022 long holiday, Esendi learned that the local assistant chief had been promoted to chief, leaving a vacancy. The qualifications required a degree and an applicant over 30 years old– criteria she did not fully meet.

“I was only 29, and I hadn’t graduated yet. But the community urged me to apply,” she said. On the interview day, she was among 15 candidates – six women and nine men – most with degrees and over 30 years.

She believes her compelling life story moved the interview panel. As the first female assistant chief in Fundisa, Esendi continues to champion girls’ and women’s rights.

Many parents now send their daughters to stay with her during school holidays for mentorship. At 32, she is married again to a teacher and has a third child.