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FGM prevalent in Country Says Government, Unicef report

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Published on Tuesday, 03 July 2007 06:02
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is not prohibited by the law and is still widely practised in the country, a report by the Government and the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) says.The report says over 60 per cent of communities in 49 out of the 69 districts circumcise their girls.As a result, 38 per cent of women in Kenya are circumcised though the prevalence of FGM varies among communities, says the report.

The variation of FGM is gauged from being non-existent among the Luo, to being very high among the Kisii and Somali.The report further says in the practising communities, FGM is viewed as a significant rite of passage into adulthood and one that enhances tribal cohesion as well as increasing the chances of a girl getting married.

It says the practice can have detrimental health effects on women, especially during pregnancy and while giving birth. FGM is also linked to the spread of HIV/Aids.Meanwhile, the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church has embarked on a programme to sensitise its members on the dangers of FGM.

The chairperson of the church's women ministry in Nakuru, Mrs Ruth Ongiri, said over the years, the church has had a problem of its members practising the rite.While speaking during the women's' annual seminar at Shiners Girl High School in the town, Ongiri said their faithful had started reacting positively to their campaigns.

However, she said it has not been an easy battle especially because most of the church members are from the Abagusii community who believe in the practice."The Abagusii believe that failing to circumcise girls interferes with childbirth and makes the girls sexually over-active, which leads to promiscuity," said the chairperson.nd the Provincial Administration in Keiyo District yesterday directed the police to hunt down parents who forcefully circumcise their daughters.

Metkei District Officer, Mr Sam Ogolla, said it was wrong for some parents to force their daughters to undergo the out-dated practice. Ogolla said police patrols would be carried out in all villages to identify the parents ignoring the directive.He, at the same time, urged girls threatened by forced circumcision to immediately report the matter to his office for the necessary action.