The government has tasked chiefs in Kuria to intensify efforts to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as the season for the practice nears.
The development comes at a time stakeholders have intensified their bid to end the vice and are keen to ensure that no girl is subjected to FGM.
The chiefs who are close to community members and communicate with them on a daily basis have now been placed at the forefront in fight against FGM.
Yesterday, authorities told The Standard that they have stepped up their campaigns to end the vice ahead of the December season where the community conducts FGM to young girls.
"The progress is impressive. However the threat is still real," Kuria West Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner Mr. Andrew Mweti said.
During a stakeholders meeting at Isebania town, the DCC noted that they were racing towards the presidential decree of ending FGM by the end of this year.
He noted that they had noticed a changing trend where FGM perpetrators had devised new methods of conducting FGM to avoid being detected.
"We are working towards ensuring that FGM does not occur," Mr. Mweti said.
The government is coming up with a commitment to ensure FGM is not conducted.
Together with the non-governmental organizations, the government has been conducting cross border anti-FGM campaigns.
According to the DCC, the government has put sufficient measures to stop FGM, as it has called upon girls who are being targeted to raise alarm and report.
"We will arrest and prosecute those propelling the act," he said.
In December last year, over 300 girls were rescued as over 60 FGM perpetrators who include 'cutters' and parents were arrested.
Last Mile 4D CEO Mahnaz Harrison said implementation of policies to end FGM have been slowed down by COVID-19 and a commitment from both the government and non-governmental organizations could end the retrogressive practice by the end of 2022.
"The goal post should not be moved. Everytime it is moved, something else happens," Ms. Harrison said.
The organization has joined several organizations in fight against FGM and has been going to schools and has so far engaged more than 2, 000 girls.
"The global community's goal is 2030. Having new elections and having new leaders in place, there could be some adjustments," she said.
A few weeks ago, anti-FGM board programs officer Nyerere Kutwa noted that the presidential decree should not be viewed as a person but as an office.
According to Mr. Kutwa, communities conducting FGM had started dismissing the decree saying that it was made by former president Uhuru Kenyatta.
"The decree is of the office and not the bearer. Those thinking that the fight against FGM ended with former President Uhuru Kenyatta's exit from the government are wrong," Kutwa said
