Kisii Woman Rep Dorice Donya has warned women in the community against forcing their daughters to undergo Female Genital Mutilation as a way of preparing them for marriage.
According to Donya, some elderly mothers in the community still hold to the belief that girls have to be circumcised in order to get married.
"There are no findings that one has to undergo FGM in order to get married. Our men have not complained to any one of us that they want ladies who have been mutilated. Our men want it in its original form. It is unfortunate that some of our mothers still hold dear this archaic practice."
She said that research had shown that two-thirds of those who have been cut in Kisii and Nyamira Counties have undergone the process in the hands of medical personnel, mostly done in private clinics.
"We are dealing a major blow to our young girls. Let us accept that the process is unnecessary and only serves to benefit those paid to carry out FGM on innocent girls."
Donya explained that, while the medicalization of FGM is not a new phenomenon, its growing popularity is worrying. "We must all stand up and fight this issue in totality and shift the focus away from traditional cutters to medical practitioners."
Right at our doorsteps
She added: "FGM is happening right at our doorsteps and this reflects poorly on us. We must end this secret ritual that our girls are forced to go through during the holidays. The majority of women who have been cut require medical attention at some time in their lives for problems related to the procedure they underwent."
A while ago, while touring Kuria, CS Aisha Jumwa banned songs that promote FGM, adding that anyone found playing the songs would be arrested and charged.
"I have banned all the songs that praise the retrogressive culture."
The CS then promised to educate and employ a 19-year-old girl who had been forced by her brother to undergo FGM.
She tasked chiefs and Nyumba Kumi groups to ensure that girls in their areas are not subjected to the cut, adding that men should be at the forefront to stop the retrogressive culture.
"If any of these girls get cut, chiefs will have to explain why that has happened. Girls cannot be turned into money-making schemes. We must guard the lives of the girls," Jumwa said.
She said they would be doing a follow-up every two months to ensure there is a safe environment for girls in the county.
Policy advocate, Edina Kangwana says there is a need for the Kisii and Nyamira county governments to develop an anti-FGM policy to help guide the fight against the vice.
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"Before we seek support from the government and even our leaders, let it be a priority to all parents to nurture our daughters and make them understand that some primitive cultural practices no longer add value in their lives."
In February 2019, Kenya joined the African Union initiative on Ending Female Genital Mutilation in Africa dubbed Saleema Initiative.
Obino Nyambane, a thespian, said cultures have evolved over the years and so must society.
"Let's change the language and have the vice addressed at the lowest level of our society. Our grandmother and some mothers still wonder why we are against a process they comfortably underwent."
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