Rogue nurses circumcising new born baby girls warned

Taita Taveta, Kenya: Taita Taveta County officials have warned nurses allegedly colluding with parents to circumcise new born baby girls secretly.

Yesterday, County Executive Committee in-charge of Health Gifton Mkaya and governor’s wife Hope Mruttu warned the rogue nurses that their days are numbered.

They claimed that with the use of modern equipment, the nurses collude with mothers to circumcise one-week-old baby girls in privacy for a fee. The secret ritual is most prevalent in Taveta sub-county of Taita Taveta. The revelation made yesterday demonstrated how the ancient practice has refused to die and how modern professionals refuse to abandon it.

Speaking at Maungu Township, Mr Mkaya and Mrs Mruttu condemned the practice as outdated. “We are aware that some nurses and parents are carrying out this antiquated practice and have resorted to conducting it secretly. They will all be arrested and prosecuted,” Mkaya warned.

It was also disclosed that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is still prevalent in Taita-Taveta than publicly acknowledged, with modern health practitioners perpetuating it. “The practice has led to a drop out problem among school girls. It exposes its victims to health risks and remains an issue of great public concern in this region,” said Mkaya.

SAFETY MEASURES

Mruttu said FGM was a retrogressive and dangerous cultural practice that should be done away with.

She called on women in the area to be in the forefront in the fight against the vice.

Speaking during the ‘Save Our Queens Campaign’ in in the region, Mkaya noted the discreet manner in which the ritual is done exposes victims to many risks as neither safety nor health precautions are observed.

He challenged relevant stakeholders to be in the forefront in condemning the practice, saying it was not only outdated but harmful.

Founding and mentorship director at Darius Mbela Foundation Beatrice Mbela also condemned FGM as outdated and risky, saying the practice should be eradicated. “It is sad to note that the county ranks among those with the highest prevalence of this vice in Kenya,” she said.

County Woman Rep Joyce Wanjala Lay said gender-based violence against women is on the rise in the region.

She said women empowerment, participation and inclusiveness are central to dealing with the vice.