This December let us be on high alert to stop FGM

Kenya as a country is at a very significant phase in the social change process to end Female Genital Mutilation. It is still in different parts of Kenya that we have various communities who still practice the act of FGM in silence. This makes the fight to end FGM far from over. Luckily for us as a nation, we have existing legislation- The Anti-FGM Law of 2011. This means that the practice of FGM has been declared criminal in the republic of Kenya.

We must first understand why communities practice FGM. It is their cultural and social norm which makes this practice sacred to the ways of life and acceptance to be part of these communities. This marks one of the biggest setbacks in fighting FGM- but the fight must be won. One of the best approaches to make these communities stop and publicly declare no to FGM is to enlighten them on the effects it has on the lives of women and girls. Studies have shown that in many communities that practice FGM, men do not know the effects it causes during childbirth and on the sexual and reproductive health of women yet they are the ones who enforce the practice of this barbaric act.

It is, therefore, important to teach, the next generation of community elders- who are the boys, the effects of FGM and why it must stop. When we get the whole community to understand that FGM has no place in our society then we will see more girls empowered through education, they will not be married off at an early age and eventually the community will reap the fruits of development.

With almost eight months to the general election, leaders play populist politics and no one wants to be seen condemning the practice of FGM publicly. This puts us on the brink of collapsing the progress made to keep off thousands of girls away from the cut. It is rogue leaders who will abet the practice and make declarations that will incite the communities to subject women and girls to FGM. I therefore call upon leaders, to stand firm and guide their communities on the right path.

As we approach the holiday season, I urge the authorities to be vigilant and fully enforce the law that prohibits the practice the FGM, especially the new dynamic of cross-border practice where cases have been reported of people crossing over to Tanzania- because the country lacks prohibiting legislation. My biggest hope is that no girl will fail to report to school in January 2017, because they were subjected to FGM. Our journey to completely abandon the practice of FGM, starts with each one of us being on the look out to condemn and most importantly convince the perpetrators to stop. For they say, the pen is mightier than the sword. We can engage in community dialogues- for FGM should is no longer be a taboo subject and we who have seen the light- should lead others out of darkness.