Police foil bid to 'cut' 800 girls in Migori County

MIGORI COUNTY: Police in partnership with the county government have rescued 800 girls who were being prepared to undergo Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Kuria region.

The rescue came only two weeks after anti FGM campaigns were launched at Kehancha-Kuria.

Komotobo Rescue Centre Manager Samuel Chacha said the practice is on the rise with many cases of underage girls undergoing the rite being reported.

The centre is the only source of solace for girls who defy the cultural practice and currently, it is full.

"Our major aim is to see the practice shunned. However, we are surprised that it increases season after season, even with the efforts of the non-governmental organisations and the Government," said Mr Chacha.

Last week, more than 600 youths armed with machetes were celebrating after elders managed to circumcise more than 50 girls from Kuria East sub-county.

They had been instructed to protect their cultural practice by barricading all the roads leading to the bushes where the elders were busy initiating the girls. No intruder was allowed in.

One of the youths who spoke to The Standard vowed to protect their culture against any interference, adding that they were not ready to let go the practice.

"This is our culture and we will not allow some people to come and disregard it at once, we shall protect it with our lives. We are happy celebrating our culture," he said.

OUT-DATED CULTURE

The Kuria community has maintained the FGM practice even as the Government ups its efforts to fight the outdated practice. Several arrests have been made.

Governor Zachary Obado who donated food and other necessities to the rescue centre Thursday said so far 10 people among them parents and circumcisers have been arrested.

The Standard also established that some girls and parents, who support the act, escape into the neighbouring Tanzania to undergo the cut, while a number of service providers also cross into Kenya to offer the services.

Mr Obado condemned the act and challenged the locals to focus on issues that could empower the girl-child in the region.

"Just the same way we are fighting to reduce the level of HIV and Aids in the county, we should also look forward to get rid of these barbaric acts (FGM) for our girls," he said.

The governor promised that the county government will take care of the neglected girls and warned parents against forcing the girls into FGM.

"We will always be supportive to our girls and anyone interfering with their progress will not be tolerated. The war against FGM has to be won," he said.