In the vibrant yet traditional community of Kilifi, Ruweida Muhammad, Executive Director of Desire Youth Initiative, is spearheading a quiet but powerful revolution. Growing up in an area where harmful practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) were not just accepted but celebrated, Ruweida’s journey from a silent observer to a vocal advocate has been marked by both resistance and resilience.
“I advocate for freedom from violence against women and girls in Kilifi, as well as for sexual and reproductive health rights,” says Ruweida, who has been at the forefront of Kenya’s fight against femicide. Her work empowers communities with knowledge about the right pathways for reporting abuse and seeking justice—a critical need in a region where cultural norms often silence victims.
FGM is deeply ingrained in parts of Kilifi, seen as a rite of passage to control girls’ purity. “In our culture, if you haven’t gone through the knife, you’re considered dirty,” Ruweida explains. She combats this by educating women on FGM’s dangers, sharing harrowing stories like her cousin’s near-fatal childbirth. “I come from this community. They trust me because I understand the practice’s impact,” she says.
Her strategy blends education and legal warnings—a “carrot and stick” approach that has shifted attitudes. Yet her boldness comes at a cost: threats, shunning, and even family pressure to stop. “A Muslim woman, especially unmarried, isn’t expected to challenge traditions,” she admits. But with security training from Peace Brigades International (PBI), she continues her protests, like the recent anti-femicide demonstrations in Kilifi. “When a local femicide case emerged, I knew we had to act,” she recalls.
Beyond FGM, Ruweida tackles transactional sex, defilement, and systemic barriers to justice. She recalls a 13-year-old girl starved by her uncle into sexual compliance while her mother worked abroad. “Chiefs often handle such cases ‘quietly,’ but I demand accountability,” she says. When the government proposed taxing sanitary pads, she mobilized opposition, arguing it would reverse progress for girls’ health and dignity.
Her journey hasn’t been easy. Early on, fear of backlash made her hesitant. But through networks like PBI, she found courage. “Meeting other Muslim women human rights defenders showed me I wasn’t alone,” she says. Today, mosques welcome her reproductive health talks, and community leaders increasingly support her. “Female politicians are rare here—most seats go to men,” she notes. Yet Ruweida’s persistence is changing minds.
In a society that silences women, Ruweida Muhammad’s leadership is transformative. From FGM to femicide, she challenges injustices with education, legal action, and unshakable resolve—paving the way for Kilifi’s women and girls to claim their rights and futures.