This archive report was first published on 3 July 2019.
Published on July 3, 2019, a disturbing case of female genital mutilation in Nakuru County has brought attention to the need for communities to take a stand against this human rights violation.
A 31-year-old woman from Nakuru County was subjected to genital mutilation at a medical facility, allegedly at the behest of a self-proclaimed prophet who claimed that the Gikuyu 'gods' were unhappy due to the neglect of certain traditional practices.
The incident has sparked outrage, with many calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. The government has pledged to end the practice by 2022, and efforts are underway to empower communities to report and prevent such crimes.
Initiatives such as the End FGM Beads Initiative, spearheaded by Ushanga Kenya and backed by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the government, aim to enlist women in communities that practice FGM into economic initiatives, thereby fighting poverty and empowering women.
According to Hellen Nkaissery, chairperson of Ushanga Kenya, the initiative will 'talk to them in the language that they understand, through the beads' and have them 'stand firm to say they are against FGM' as well as child marriages.
