Police in Keiyo arrested seven women who had been lined up to undergo the outlawed Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) at Chepkogin village on Tuesday.
In a sting operation conducted under the cover of darkness, police ambushed the women who included two elders believed to be circumcisers at secluded houses ready to undergo the cut.
All the women are aged 21 to 23 years while the circumcisers are aged 70 to 72 years.
Following a tip from members of the public, the officers nabbed the women just in time before the operation began.
Elgeyo Marakwet County Police Commander John Mwinzi said that two knives and blankets were recovered.
“This outlawed practice should be condemned by all,” the police boss said noting that the women in are police custody.
He said the women will be taken to court tomorrow (Wednesday) after investigations are completed.
“After interrogating them, they opened up and blamed their spouses for coercing them into undergoing the cut. Some are about to get married and had been told they will not get husbands before undergoing the cut,” stated Mr Mwinzi.
He said that all security officers in the county are on high alert following reports that thousands of women and young girls have been rounded up to undergo the cut as soon as the KCSE examination ends.
“Let the general public be warned that FGM is an illegal practice and anybody found to be perpetuating the outlawed cultural practice will face the law,” he cautioned.
Mwinzi said there was need for the society to value women in their natural being.
“FGM has exposed young girls to early marriages thus curtailing their future endeavors and we should all fight the vice,” he urged.
