Kajiado: Residents of Kajiado County have been urged to abandon the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), with stakeholders warning that the harmful tradition continues to endanger the health, education, and overall wellbeing of girls. The appeal was made during an anti-FGM sensitization forum held at Impirishi Kajiado West, where youth leaders, elders, and local administrators joined hands to denounce the practice and call for concerted community action to protect girls.
According to Kenya News Agency, youth leader Sarah Mutheu emphasized that FGM robs girls of their future by subjecting them to teenage pregnancies and early marriages. Mutheu highlighted that once a girl is circumcised, she is immediately seen as a woman and is expected to drop out of school to get married, thus putting her dreams and future on hold.
She further noted that beyond disrupting education, FGM exposes girls to serious health complications, including excessive bleeding, infections, and childbirth-related complications later in life. Mutheu pointed out that the procedure is often carried out in unhygienic conditions without proper medical care, putting the lives of young girls at risk.
Mutheu also observed that the impact of FGM extends beyond physical harm, as many survivors endure emotional and psychological trauma that affects their self-esteem and overall wellbeing. She stressed the importance of protecting the health, dignity, and future of girls in the community.
Echoing her sentiments, village elder Peter Tomanka described FGM as an outdated practice that should be abandoned. He emphasized the need for the community to embrace education and modern values that empower children. Tomanka highlighted the critical role elders play in shaping community values and discouraging harmful customs.
Tomanka called on parents to support government and civil society initiatives aimed at eradicating FGM, stating that collective action is necessary to protect girls from the harmful practice. Local administrators present at the forum underscored the government’s commitment to ending FGM and urged residents to report cases to authorities. They emphasized that strict measures have been put in place to safeguard the rights of girls and ensure perpetrators face the law.
