Journalists attacked by pro-FGM demonstrators in Kajiado

Women demonstrate at Sajiloni Shopping Center in Kajiado Central. [PHOTO: PETERSON GITHAIGA]

Kajiado County, Kenya: Normal business was interrupted at a remote village in Kajiado County yesterday when chaos erupted during a demonstration  to advocate for female genital mutiliation that  turned chaotic.

Three journalists including this writer were injured and were treated at a nearby health centre after the demonstrators turned to them accusing them for being at the fore front in fighting FGM.

NTV Cameraman Mr Abdalah Ngotho and M/s Christine Musa of Media Max were injured during the melee while Mr Ngotho’s  television Camera was damaged.

As whipping went on, Media-Max's Christine opted to save herself using the Maasai dialect declaring she is circumcised and advocating for FGM too.

Unfortunately the irate women demanded to strip her off for inspection to ascertain her truth. She had to save her big lie by fighting her way free and running.

However, the journalists who the agitated women termed as traitors who were colluding with chiefs and the county government in the fight against FGM, were rescued by administration police officers from Kajiado, who responded immediately.

Property of unknown value was also destroyed at the Sajironi open air market as the woman tried to force others to participate in the demo.

Trouble started when more than five hundred agitated women from the Maasai community held a protest at Sajiloni Shopping Center in Kajiado Central, advocating for female gentle mutilation and calling for the government to allow them practice FGM.

The women who matched for 15 kilometres from Enkorika to Sajilioni were humming FGM songs saying that girl circumcision is their culture that they are not ready to abandon They vowed that they  are ready to do whatever it takes to maintain their culture.

The violent women resolved to express their grievances by destroying property of unknown value in the Sajilioni market prompting immediate closure of the town activities at the watch of their men. At some point some women fainted out of anger.

They shouted that circumcision is by their choice and the Constitution should open a lee way for them to continue with their culture.

"We cannot afford to  abandon our  rich culture that we found our fore fathers practicing, The government should allow as to continue with it," said Ms Naomi Naserian who is 67 years old.

Naserian told The Standard that when a girl is not circumcised, she risks ending up unmarried as Maasai men do not wish to marry uncircumcised women.

She further condemned the uncircumcised women saying they contribute to prostitution as their sex urge is very high.

"That’s why we have a big number of prostitutes in areas where FGM is not practiced, and  also a reason for the high rate of HIV and Aids," claimed Naserian.

She also claimed it is their culture to cut girls saying un-cut girls attract bad omen to the family and the society.

When contacted, Member of Parliament Rtd General Joseph Nkaiserry condemned the Incident saying locals carrying out female genital mutilation must prepare to face the law. Nkaissery said many who break the law at will always rush to leaders to protect them against arrests by the police in the name of tradition and culture.

The legislator said nobody will be protected or spared on this as it is outrightly against Kenyan law.

"These people should be ready to go to jail if found practicing this culture that has been overtaken by events," Nkaiserry told The Standard on phone. 

He warned Chiefs and their assistants that they should not fear while taking action against perpetrators of such practices.

This comes barely a month after a 13-year-old girl died in a botched FGM exercise in the same area and several adults, including her parents, were arrested for being involved.

However the women maintain that death is a rare occasion and only happens when the parents have a curse.