This archive report was first published on 9 November 2019.
On November 8, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta shared a memory of his father, the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, at State House in Nairobi. The revelation has left many in shock.
According to Uhuru, his father used to oversee female circumcision in their Agikuyu community during the period Kenya was colonized by the British. This practice, now known as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), was accepted at the time but is now widely condemned.
Uhuru emphasized that the country has moved beyond such practices and that FGM should not be allowed to continue. He acknowledged the importance of respecting traditional practices but also emphasized the need to adapt to changing times.
“I want to thank our elders for sharing with us the importance of our traditions. However, as we move forward, we must also acknowledge that some practices are no longer acceptable,” Uhuru said.
He added: “My father did what was necessary at the time, but that does not mean we must follow suit. We must recognize that our traditions are not static and that we must evolve with the times.”
Uhuru's comments came during a forum on FGM, attended by community elders from 22 affected counties. The report presented at the forum revealed that an estimated 9.3 million girls in Kenya have undergone FGM.
