Nowhere to run for circumcisers as authorities tighten the noose

Some of the implements used by female traditional circumcises used in Kuria. Kuria OCPD, Mr Evans Wanyinyo. Traditional circumcisers in Kuria, Migori County are engaging the police in a hide-and-seek game as the government intensifies fight against Female Genital Mutilation. (PHOTO: SCOPHINE OTIENO/ STANDARD)

Traditional circumcisers in Kuria, Migori County are engaging the police in a hide-and-seek game as the government intensifies fight against Female Genital Mutilation.

While some circumcisers flee to Tanzania to escape arrest, others are tucked in their hideouts where they continue to administer the rite in secrecy under guard and protection from village elders.

Stakeholders estimate that more than 95 per cent of girls from the Kuria community still undergo circumcision carried out in December each year despite the vice being illegalised.

The government this year tightened the war against the vice but not before they first sensitised the community on the same.

In a meeting with residents two months ago, Anti-FGM board chairperson, Lina Jebii Kilimo asked parents and other stakeholders to be vigilant in the fight against the vice.

Kuria OCPD Evans Wanyonyi who is in charge of Kuria East and West said they undertook a sensitisation exercise when they got information that the community was planning to start the initiations after the completion of KCPE exams last week.

On Friday, a day after the exams ended, three people were arrested; two circumcisers and one member of the council of elders. Two days later, a ten-year-old girl escaped the ‘cut’ by a whisker when police stormed a compound in Kuria East and made arrests while the ceremony to have her go through FGM was underway. Those in custody number twelve.

Police rescued the girl and arrested eight adults including her parents, two elderly women who are tasked with performing the outlawed rite and an elder who is apparently an executive member of Kuria Council of Elders.

Rescue centre

“We were tipped of the culprits who had rented a hut at Komomange in Kuria East and were planning to cut a young girl,” he said.

The OCPD together with the Deputy Commissioner Okiring’ Ajalet and other law enforcers stormed the compound and found paraphernalia for the ritual.

They found a slaughtered goat, its blood drained in a container, a bucket full of traditional brew (busaa), the intestines of the animal among others.

The girl was taken to a rescue centre while the suspects were arraigned in court and denied bail.

Denying the culprits bail is one way the Judiciary is using to discourage the act. Two  elders were later arrested while burning herbs used in the ceremony. Ajalet confirmed the arrest and said the two are in custody and will be arraigned in Court on Monday.

According to the Anti-FGM Act a person who commits an offense under this law is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not more than three years or to a fine of not less than Sh200,000 or both.

Because of these strict laws, parents from Kuria have allegedly been taking their daughters to the neighbouring Tanzania for circumcision.

The authorities seem well aware of this and Chebii said both Countries will work together to apprehend such culprits and bring them to book.

Wanyonyi stated that they are working with counterparts in Tanzania to ensure those who sneak their girls to be circumcised will be apprehended since Tanzania has also banned the ritual.

In the community is is a known fact that there are only eight female circumcisers with one serving a jail term at Migori Women’s Prison.

Of the seven, four are in custody thanks to last weeks’ operation and thus only three are left in the community with police keenly monitoring their moves.

“They are the only people to do the act and we know where they live and are monitoring them, we have our officers and sources on the ground to monitor them,” Wanyonyi said. The execise faces serious challenges.

Wanyonyi said they face intimidation with some of the officers afraid of joining such operations fearing curses from the elders.

“Senior officers and those who have been here for a while are often pushed before they can join the anti-FGM operations. They cite examples of people who have died or gone through misfortunes because of spearheading the campaigns against female circumcision,” he said.