Nawi

Sold for livestock by her own father, a young girl escapes her impending marriage and embarks on a journey to reclaim her dream of joining high school.

Nawi‘s (Michelle Lemuya Ikeny) aspirations of attending high school are shattered when she learns that her father Eree (Ochungo Benson) plans to marry her off to a stranger, Shadrack (Ben Tekee). Despite her family‘s necessity for the bride wealth – symbolized by a substantial amount of livestock – Nawi refuses to succumb to this arranged child marriage. Her steadfast ally in this struggle is her brother and closest friend, Joel (Joel Liwan).

However, Nawi‘s father remains entrenched in tribal traditions, swayed by the counsel of uncles, stepbrothers, and the elders of the clan. Even her three mothers (a.o. Michelle Chebet Tiren, Nungo Marrianne Akinyi), constrained by their roles as women, believe that being a wife is Nawi‘s destined path.

In a bold move, Nawi flees on her wedding night. Pursued by her own family, she embarks on a journey towards Nairobi, clinging to her dream of a promising future. But her sense of responsibility tugs her back when news arrives that her newly-born sister will have to take Nawi’s place in the impending marriage. Nawi returns home to confront her family and husband, an idea in mind to rewrite the fate of countless child brides.