CS Murkomen orders arrest of community elders conducting FGM

Speaking in Elgeyo Marakwet during Mazingira Day, CS Murkomen singled out areas such as Kisii, Migori, North Eastern, Kerio Valley, Samburu, Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot as notorious FGM zones, especially during the December festivities. 

The CS also cautioned that the tradition of early marriages, which is constitutionally classified as defilement, is a punishable offense and should be abandoned by the communities.

He urged the community to eliminate gender inequality and allow girls to attend school just like boys, pointing out that such traditional practices play a role in causing poverty.

“Nimesema mtu yeyote mwenye anasaidia ukeketaji ya wasichana kwa mambo ya FGM nimeambia askari lazima huyo mtu ashikwe, apelekwe kotini, aende afungwe. Kwa sababu anaharibia wasichana wadogo Maisha yao,” CS Murkomen stated.

According to the WHO, more than 200 million girls and women have been cut in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where FGM is concentrated.

Nationally, the trend fluctuated from 37.1 per cent in 1998, 27 per cent in 2009, 32.2 per cent in 2003 to 27.1 per cent in 2008 and 21 per cent in 2014. This is according to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey.

"The decline can be attributed to multi-faceted approaches mounted by the government and non-governmental organizations in the recent past. However, there is need for county-specific data in order to coordinate effectively and inform programming," stated the anti-FGM board strategic plan (2019-2023).