By Andrew Mibey
Bomet, Kenya: A man in Kapsoton area in Bomet County thwacked his mother and sister after they ridiculed his wife for being uncircumcised.
The man, only identified as Paulo, was infuriated by his mother and sister’s remarks so much that he couldn’t hold back his anger.
His mother goaded her daughter-in-law to undergo the all-important cut, which, according to her, every woman worth her salt in the community had undergone.
Traditions
Paula’s mother kept saying that female circumcision is held in high esteem in their traditions, and that for her daughter-in-law to earn her respect, she has to undergo it.
(Never mind Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is outlawed in Kenya, but parts of Bomet County still practice it with impunity, every December).
Paulo cautioned his mother against humiliating his wife, urging her that the practice is outdated and, in fact, frowned upon by authorities — but all in vain. Her mother, who had never known about Paulo’s wife being uncircumcised, had never talked about the issue.
But it was Paula’s circumcised elder sister who opened a can of worms when she began chiding her sister-in-law. Paulo, a lastborn in his family, couldn’t take it anymore.
Terror
He took the matter personally and unleashed terror on the duo, seriously injuring them. He claimed that he took drastic decision after they became too much and insulted him.
“They made fun of my wife and began teasing and insulting me for not being man enough to force my wife to undergo the cut,” he said.
“I heard my mother and sister singing circumcision songs rather loudly and joking about how a man marrying an uncircumcised wife is a big scandal,” Paulo added.
Initially, he ignored their taunts, but they persisted. He pleaded with them to stop, but they laughed him off and proceeded. A neighbour reported that, Paulo’s mother and sister, in drunken stupor, had been heard yelling and shouting at Paulo to force his wife to undergo the cut.
“Yooche keyatita kwondo (A woman ought to be circumcised), Paulo’s mother was heard shouting his house.
“Ee iman, lasima keyatita kwondo (Yeah, it’s true, a woman must be circumcised) Paulo’s sister quipped drunkenly.
Provoked
This was too much for Paulo, more so when his three-year-old son kept asking what was going on.
Provoked beyond human endurance, he thrashed the drunken women thoroughly.
The case is now with the local chief and the village elders who are at pains reconciling the torn-apart family.
