FGM: Shame of girls set to undergo cut in Kuria despite ban

Anti-FGM elders meet at Biang'ung'u shrine in Kegonga, Migori County. [Caleb Kingwara, Standard] Despite concerted efforts by the government to end female genital mutilation (FGM), the practice is still rife among the Kuria of Migori County. Preparations for the rites set for December began as early as last month. Investigations by The Standard established that a number of girls are being readied to undergo circumcision in Kuria. Some of the girls have been brought into the country from Tanzania and are staying with relatives. Last month, Tanzanian authorities rescued two girls who had been sneaked into the country, through the Isebania border, to undergo circumcision. Four Kuria clans are found in Kenya; the Nyabasi, Bugumbe, Bukira and Bwirege. Nine clans are in Tanzania; the Abapemba, Ababurati, Abamera, Abagumbe, Abatimbaru, Abanyabasi, Abakira, Abakunta and Abakenye. The clans in Tanzania rely on specialists in Kenya and have started sneaking in girls into the country in preparation for the cut. Over the years, stigma against uncircumcised girls has been the biggest impediment to ending the practice. Zacharia Chacha said he received death threats when he announced that he was going to marry an uncircumcised woman. He said some people threatened to forcibly cut his bride. He sought the help of police officers, but they feared that the the locals might take matters in their hands. It took the intervention of a senior security officer for the wedding to take place. Unlike Chacha, most men prefer circumcised women to avoid stigma. And as preparations for FGM continues, authorities are mulling ways to ensure that it does not take place. During a stakeholders' meeting which involved police, chiefs, CBOs, NGOs and the clergy, held on October 25 and 26 in Tarime District in Tanzania, it was revealed that a number of girls had sought shelter at rescue centres to escape being cut. More than 40 girls have sought refuge in safe houses in Tanzania. "These children saw 'cutters' visiting their homes as the preparations continue and they ran away," said Valerian Mgani. Ms Mgani is the chair of the Association for Termination of FGM-Masanga, a CSO in Tarime, Tanzania. In December last year, about 400 girls were rescued and 80 people arrested for subjecting girls to FGM. In 2020, about 3,000 girls were subjected to FGM and last year, two clans, Bumera of Tanzania and Renchoka of both countries conducted circumcision ceremonies that saw more than 800 girls cut. William Motatiro , a senior chief in charge of Komotobo location in Kuria East, raised fears of Mabera and Ntimaru sub-counties as areas where FGM would be conducted this season. "We however don't know the clan that will start," Mr Motatiro said. FGM is conducted at night and in isolated places. A number of parents claimed they rely on boda boda riders to cross into Kenya to have their girls cut. During the stakeholders' meeting, whose theme was countering cross-border FGM, it was revealed that the girls walk in twos and hide in the bush in order not to noticed. "Anywhere is a circumcision place. Be careful when you see girls being transported on boda boda. They don't circumcise girls where boys are circumcised," said Vincent Mwita, the chairman of Tunaweza Empowerment. Acting Regional Provincial Commissioner for Tarime david Ibrahim said in mid October, 10 cows were stolen, a sign of FGM preparations. Mr Ibrahim said they are working towards ending FGM. His sentiments were reiterated by Nyerere Kutwa from the Anti-FGM board. Last week, the board in partnership with Unicef launched PASHA, a mobile app which would help in reporting FGM cases before or when they happen. The mobile application will complement other existing reporting mechanisms which include 116 and 1195 for reporting cases of GBV and cases concerning children. Migori Director for Gender Kenneth Oomo said cases of FGM have gone down by 50 per cent. He, however, claimed that some elders abetted the practice in secret even after being given money by the government to end the vice Lydia Kaugi, the programmes coordinator for terre des homes, a Netherlands-based organisation, said FGM cannot be eliminated by one person.

FGM: Shame of girls set to undergo cut in Kuria despite ban

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