At least 21 percent of women aged between 15 and 49 in Central Kenya have undergone Female Genital Mutilation, a trend that has forced rights groups to start a campaign to eradicate the practice.
In the past three days, talks to discourage the traditional culture have been rife in Murang’a after a woman two weeks ago claimed her husband led a gang that assaulted her to conform with traditions.
The groups led by members of Anti FGM board and FIDA met National government administrators and senior police officers for a brain storming meeting at Murang’a Teachers Training College, to lay strategies on how best to deal with the ‘unhealthy’ culture likely to spring up.
Anti FGM Board Chief Executive Officer Bernadette Loloji said the government was determined to end the unhealthy culture by next year. The groups raised concerns on some rogue health practitioners doing the ritual in health facilities, against the professional conduct.
She said according to the 2014 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey in Kikuyu land 14 percent of women are circumcised, while Meru 32 percent and Embu 32 percent.
“We are concerned that there are rogue men who are forcing their wives into FGM citing cultural backgrounds. The culprits once arrested will not be spared but will face the full force of the law,” said Loloji.
The board she added with looking for a medical examination report on the Kandara woman who was allegedly forced into the cut by her spouse. She is currently under treatment at a Nairobi hospital.
The board she said was working with partners to eradicate the vice by next year as directed by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government.
Murang’a County MP Sabina Chege on her part warned that the doctors who will fall prey in conducting the ritual will be dealt with in accordance with the rule of the law.
Chege, who is the Chairperson of the Health Parliamentary committee, said medics should be in the front line to educate the public on the dangers of retrogressive culture.
“There are cases of FGM occurring in the villages, which have not been reported to the authorities,” Chege said.
She called on the chiefs to support the campaign for the interests of a healthy nation.
FIDA Programme Officer, Alice Maraga expressed fears that FGM is slowly creeping back among the Agikuyu community and should be addressed by the stakeholders.
Maraga condemned traditional and religious groups which are propagating for women ‘cut’ saying Murang’a County is not among hot spots in FGM but few cases are being reported.
“The FGM cases being reported are said to be pushed by men. Husbands should protect their wives and protect them from any form of harassment,” she noted.
The officer said they have several reports about FGM from Murang’a County calling for concerted efforts to stop the retrogressive behaviours.
She said FIDA has received distress calls from women who reported attempts by their husbands to force them to undergo FGM.
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