This archive report was first published on 13 November 2019.
Laikipia's Samburu community has made a significant shift in their traditional practices, embracing modern circumcision to reduce the risk of diseases. The community, located in the outskirts of Rumuruti town, has chosen to abandon traditional healers and instead opt for a trained clinical officer, Peter Kandele, to perform the delicate task.
According to Kandele, the modern program was not meant to replace traditional male circumcision but to enhance it. He uses modern medicine to treat the boys, unlike in the past where herbs were used. Kandele gets the medicine and equipment from hospitals and private pharmacies, requiring only Sh1,000 from the parents to complete the procedure.
John Leroshe, a village elder, explained that the traditional method of circumcision exposed the boys to diseases due to the use of a single knife for all the boys. The community has now embraced the modern approach, with Kandele advising parents to feed the boys with sour milk mixed with blood to preserve tradition.
Male circumcision is part of the HIV prevention package that also covers men's sexual reproductive health. Experts say male circumcision reduces the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men by approximately 60 per cent. Kandele noted that traditional male circumcision is associated with higher genital mutilation due to over-circumcision.
