Nuria Gollo's journey from child bride to fiercely outspoken women's advocate

Nuria Gollo is a fierce advocate for the rights of women and girls in Kenya, a country that has always been a staunchly patriarchal society.

During her years as an elementary school teacher, she spent many hours outside of school counselling girls and their families, to help them deal with the challenges they faced. 

The man who married me paid five cattle as dowry...I was 16 when I was married.- Nuria Gollo

In 2003, she made that her life's work. Ms. Gollo trained as a paralegal and founded the Marsabit Women's Advocacy Development Organization. Marsabit is situated in northern Kenya, about an eight-hour drive from the capital of Nairobi.

Every week, dozens of people appeal for help from Ms. Gollo and the small-but-mighty team she has assembled. They hear from women whose husbands are beating them. Children who learn they will be sold into marriage ask for help. Others want protection from female genital mutilation. FGM is still practised in Kenya, even though it was outlawed six years ago. 

Most of the time, because I'm a local, born here, conversant with all the norms and I know most of the people around, I get that respect.- Nuria Gollo

Ms. Gollo is fearless, even though she is lives with constant threats: "Sometimes the men who beat their wives and I took them to court, don't give me peace. When they see me on the road, some of them even abuse me. Some of them might even kill me if they get me."

Nuria Gollo, who was profiled in Foreign Policy magazine, spoke with guest host Gillian Findlay from Radio Jangwani in Marsabit, Kenya.

It doesn't matter, if it is my day and somebody finds his way to kill me, well and good. But I've done my part. That's what I believe.- Nuria Gollo

Click 'listen' above to hear the full conversation.