How FGM fuels child marriages and teenage pregnancies in Meru

The high prevalence of child marriages in Meru County is closely linked to the persistent practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which continues unabated despite efforts to eradicate it.

According to both state and non-state actors involved in combating FGM and early marriages, this harmful rite of passage is supported by some parents and even medical officers.

Buuri Children Officer Mutuma Kinoti highlighted the community’s role in perpetuating the practice. “It is members of the community who are doing it. You cannot fully understand how they manage to carry it out,” he said, cautioning both those practicing FGM and those aiding it.

Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation (MYWO) Chairperson Kanana Nteere, have called for urgent measures to curb the alarming rate of teenage pregnancies in the county.

Tigania East and Buuri West sub-counties were identified as hotspots, with Children Officer Kinoti revealing that cases of defilement—often committed by fathers, step-fathers, uncles, and neighbours—are prevalent. “In Meru, we are living in very unusual times,” Kinoti said during a community sensitisation forum at Thiiri Centre in North Imenti Sub-County.

Between January and May this year, local hospitals recorded 277 pregnancies among girls aged 10 to 14 across Meru’s 11 sub-counties.

Tigania East alone accounted for 141 cases, while Igembe Central reported 40. Tigania West and Imenti North reported 28 and 24 cases, respectively.

In the 15-19 years category, 816 girls fell pregnant in Igembe Central as Igembe South reported 585 cases between January and May.

Igembe North had 508 cases as Tigania East and Tigania Central sub-counties reported 433 and 408 cases, respectively.

In total, 4, 360 girls aged between 10 and 19 fell pregnant between January and May.

Ripples International Program Manager Prince Mwenda warned that the numbers could rise significantly by year-end, noting that early pregnancies disrupt girls’ education and often lead to school dropouts.

Statistics further reveal that 24 per cent of girls in Meru experience early pregnancies—well above the national average of 15 per cent.

“Meru is doing badly. These numbers reflect the sad reality that more than one in four girls in Meru is experiencing premature disruption of their childhood and education due to early pregnancies, she said

Uncircumcised women in the community face significant stigma, often referred to derogatorily as Mukenye. Kinoti condemned the use of the term, calling it a punishable offense. “It is the most derogatory slur targeting uncircumcised women,” he said, adding that it perpetuates discrimination and reinforces harmful practices.

Weak enforcement of anti-FGM laws has allowed the practice to persist, according to Ripples International Director John Baidoo. “Although Kenya has legislation criminalising FGM, enforcement remains inconsistent. Many communities treat FGM as a low-priority offense, allowing perpetrators to go unpunished,” he said.

Baidoo also pointed out the economic incentives for FGM practitioners, primarily elderly women, who earn a living from performing the ceremonies. “To effectively combat FGM, we must provide alternative livelihoods for these practitioners and highlight the economic benefits of abandoning the practice,” he explained.

Dr. Sarah Kilemi emphasised the severe physical and mental health consequences of FGM. “The procedure, often conducted without proper medical care or anesthesia, results in severe pain, excessive bleeding, infections, and even death,” she said.Psychological trauma from FGM can lead to long-term mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.