Rescue centres in Kuria keep girls in school

By Nicholas Anyuor

Every four years, during the circumcision season, Esther Grati welcomes runaway teenage girls into her home in Nyangagana village, Kuria West District.

The girls are either escaping female genital mutilation or have been chased away from home for refusing to be cut.

Esther, a mother of six, feeds, clothes and sometimes pays school fees for the girls.

"Even with my meagre resources, I have to help the abandoned girls. I pay their school fees even though my children are in high school," she says.

Esther and several community organisations are trying to keep girls in school.

"After circumcision, the girls are told they are mature enough to have families and most of them drop out of school and get married. We want to curb this trend so that our girls can go to school. Right now we have some we rescued who have joined universities," Esther, a farmer and catechist says.

FGM has led to poor enrolment of girls in schools in both Kuria West and Kuria East districts. Some residents in conjunction with community organisations and the Government are trying to sensitise the Kuria community against the practice.

"FGM is detrimental to girls. Despite our efforts, the rite is deeply ingrained in Kuria culture. We still have a long way to go," says Rioba Menganyi, a teacher at Nyagagana Adult Education Centre.

Dangers during FGM

Concerned community members hold meetings for the public at the centre. They teach people about the dangers the girls are exposed to during and after FGM.

"We also discourage them from sending their daughters away when they refuse to be circumcised," says Rioba.

However, he is worried that the slow pace of change will see many girls suffer in December 2012, the next circumcision season.

"We fear for our girls. Shortage of funds and stubbornness of parents have hampered our efforts to sensitise the community against FGM," says Thomas Monika, chairperson of Nyangoge Self-Help Group.

The Government in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development has allocated Sh1.42 billion to alleviate poverty in South Nyanza. The funds are channelled into various sectors, including the campaign against FGM.

"There is need to establish more child rescue centres to ease the work of rescuing girls because the rescue centres are far away," Regina Chepkirui, a social worker says.