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Girls' Circumcision Continues
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 22 July 2007 22:00
Nurses and traditional circumcisers carried out the operation unperturbed.
A nurse at Kisii District Hospital was approached by a reporter who posed as a client wanting to have his sister circumcised. She accepted to carry out the rite during her lunch break.
A Nation survey established that nurses were charging Sh400 per girl for the operation that is being performed at night.
At Suneka market, journalists found seven girls aged between 8 and 12 years being escorted to their homes after being circumcised at Gesonso village of Suneka division.
Women in traditional attire sang praises for their initiated daughters at various villagers in Bochura, Bobaracho, Nyamataro and Iyabe areas.
Those interviewed said they were not aware of the presidential ban while others said the government had no right to interfere with their traditional practices.
Ms Jane Ondieki, a primary school teacher who admitted having circumcised her 13-year-old daughter, said the government would lose the battle if it used force to fight the practice.
"The government outlawed chang'aa brewing and consumption many years ago but has failed to stamp it out.
"Fighting female circumcision will be a tall order unless Kisii elected leaders take the initiative to discourage it," said another celebrant at Gesonso.
A taxi driver, Mr John Nyabuto, said he did a booming business on Wednesday night as medical personnel from the district hospital sought his services to the rural homes to carry out the operations.
In Mt Elgon District, Sabaot community leaders argued that the President should have consulted the affected communities before banning the rite.
However, Councillor Pius Kauka welcomed the decision and told the police to move swiftly and arrest those contravening the ban.
"Police should move quickly to Mt Elgon forest and arrest traditional circumcisers who have forced girls below 18 to undergo the rite," he said.
