Over 300 Samburu girls protest FGM

Samburu, Kenya: Hundreds of young Samburu girls yesterday held a two-kilometre walk in Maralal to protest against rampant female genital mutilation (FGM).

They were joined by civil rights groups and county officials in the event sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The 300 girls, aged between nine and 18 years who completed a two-day training on the alternative rite of passage conducted by World Vision Kenya, walked from Maralal town to Kisima in a bid to show their frustration over the retrogressive tradition.

ENDING CULTURE

World Vision Kenya Head Jonathan Lepoora urged the community to end the repugnant culture, noting the organisation had trained more than 300 girls through the safe alternative rite.

Mr Lepoora added that in spite of the offer of a safe alternative rite of passage, the practice was still common especially in the interior parts of the county during December holidays.

County Chief Health Officer Julius Leseeto said statistics indicate 80 per cent of girls were still being subjected to the dangerous practice.

He also called on stakeholders, including local Interior ministry officials, especially chiefs, civil rights groups and activists as well as non-governmental organisations, to join the bid to eradicate the culture.

“The practice still stands at 80 per cent and wiping it out requires that all of us to support efforts to fight this giant,” Mr Leseeto urged.

High dropout

St Mary’s Primary School teacher Justine Lesialo said the traditional rite has contributed to high school drop-out rates for young girls after undergoing the rite as they are beaded by local morans for early marriage.

Lesialo, who is actively involved in the agitation for human rights, blamed community elders for failing to raise their voices in bid to end the vice. Samburu Women Empowerment Programme official Ann Kanai said FGM is worse than any gender-based violence as it is done on girls at a tender age, leading to forced early marriages, unplanned pregnancies and exposure to HIV and Aids.

“We will conduct a door-to-door capacity building exercise to create awareness on the negative impact of FGM on young girls,” she added.