This archive report was first published on 1 October 2019.
On a recent visit to Baringo, Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto made a powerful statement against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a practice outlawed in the country since 2011.
Speaking at the wedding ceremony of human rights activist Amos Olempaka, Ruto shared a personal experience, revealing that his mother, Sarah Cheruiyot Samoei, had undergone FGM.
‘My mother went through it, but don’t dare try it on my daughters,’ Ruto declared, emphasizing the need to protect future generations from this inhumane practice.
He went on to urge locals to shun FGM, stating, ‘There are some traditions we need to leave behind. We have many girls across our families. The practice of Female Genital Mutilation needs to stop immediately.’
Ruto also warned that the government would take a firm stance against anyone caught carrying out FGM, making it clear that the practice would not be tolerated.
Kenya's fight against FGM has been ongoing, with reports suggesting that the practice is now conducted secretly in homes or clinics.
