Wajir:Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) champions and stakeholders in Wajir County are intensifying efforts to protect girls and women from harmful practices through various community initiatives.
According to Kenya News Agency, stakeholders from the national government, women and youth groups, media, elders, opinion leaders, and community representatives have convened in Wajir to reinforce community-led efforts to end FGM, teenage marriage, adolescent pregnancy, and gender-based violence (GBV).
The discussions focused on the health and social repercussions of FGM, including complications during childbirth, risks to the physical and psychological well-being of girls and women, and the impact on girls’ education and future opportunities. Veteran nurse Hindia Ahmed noted that despite numerous sensitization campaigns, the prevalence of FGM in Wajir remains at 97 percent. She emphasized the need for sustained community engagement to change social attitudes that perpetuate FGM.
Halima Bochola, founder of the Pastoralist Women Network Initiative (PAWONI), highlighted the severe health consequences of FGM, such as excessive bleeding, infections, and psychological trauma. Bochola stressed the importance of strengthening community actions to protect at-risk girls from FGM.
The stakeholders have committed to leading community awareness, advocacy, and prevention activities aimed at eliminating FGM and other harmful practices. These efforts are part of the Future4Binti programme, a five-year initiative running from 2026 to 2030 in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia. The programme aims to prevent FGM and teenage pregnancy, early and forced marriage while promoting girls’ rights and community-led change.
Kenya Alliance for Advancement of Children Programme officer Francis Wanjohi stated that the Future4Binti Programme seeks to create safer, healthier communities where girls can thrive without harmful practices and discrimination. The initiative emphasizes collaboration with parents, elders, teachers, and other stakeholders, alongside stronger healthcare and protection services for girls at risk and survivors.
The stakeholders in Wajir stressed that sustained community engagement, education, and coordinated action are essential to accelerate efforts to end FGM and protect girls from its adverse health and social impacts.
