Rescued FGM victims hospitalised

By MERCY AHENDA

NAROK COUNTY, KENYA: Eight women from Mau Narok in Nakuru County are receiving treatment at Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital after undergoing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) yesterday evening.

According to Mary Tinga, the chairperson of Loreto Sisters Against FGM in Nakuru County, the women underwent the cut by a traditional circumciser.

“The patients are doing well after being attended to by doctors,” said Dr John Ochola, the nursing officer in charge of the hospital.

Ms Tinga said the women, including one who had had a baby, were rescued by police and the local administration after a tip off from the public.

She said the traditional circumciser, who had locked the victims in a secluded room, escaped.

The women allegedly underwent the cut following intimidation by the local community.

“Most women who undergo FGM are forced by their husbands and mothers-in-law,” she said.

She added that there is an increase in the number of girls and women being forced to undergo circumcision.

Meanwhile, police in Bomet are holding two women linked to the circumcision of four underage girls.

The two, aged 60 and 56, were arrested yesterday in their hideout in Kapsimotwo village, Bomet Central, by police after being tipped off by the public.

Area chief Rubean Ngetich said the two women – a mother of one of the girls and a circumciser – were arrested at midnight shortly after carrying out the illegal rite on the girls.

Ngetich said the two were also found with tools believed to have been used to circumcise the girls.

Done secretly

 “Though we managed to arrest the perpetrators, the girls were taken into hiding,” said the administrator.

Ngetich, who led the operation, said although FGM has been banned, it was still being practised secretly in the area.

“Communities here are very secretive and it is difficult know when they are planning to circumcise girls,” said the chief.