Many Turkana pastoralists are polygamous. Generally, the more cattle or goats a man has, the more wives he can afford. Women are traditionally married young, often to much older men, who, by virture of age, are respected leaders in their communities. Girls as young as 10 can be given to other families in a sort of dry-run for marriage. These factors, together with pastoralists’ marginalisation in Kenyan society and their remoteness from health centres, add to their risk of HIV infection and transmission.