This archive report was first published on 13 December 2019.
On Wednesday evening, police in Kuria East, Migori County, fired in the air and lobbed teargas canisters to disperse a crowd gathered for a female circumcision ceremony at Ntimaru market.
According to Kuria East police commander Benjamin Rotich, six people, including a traditional female circumciser, were arrested during the incident, which also left scores of people injured and property worth thousands of shillings destroyed.
Two teenage girls who had been circumcised at a house in Ntimaru market were spirited away on a motorcycle after police burst into the building following a tip-off.
As police fired in the air, some of those in the circumcision party responded with stones, turning the busy market into a battlefield.
Rotich confirmed the incident, saying his officers stormed the circumcision centre because the practice has been banned by the government.
“My officers wanted to rescue the girls but found they had already been cut and driven away on a motorcycle. We used teargas because some of those in the crowd were armed with stones and arrows,” said Rotich.
Locals reported that the two girls, both in primary school, were taken into hiding in a neighbouring village even though they were still bleeding.
Businessman Daniel Wambura, who was caught up in the skirmishes, claimed he lost solar panels and computers worth thousands of shillings during the confrontation.
“The police attacked everyone in sight. There was total confusion. They used batons, teargas, and whips. They damaged property in the process,” said Wambura.
However, Rotich denied the claims, saying his officers restrained themselves and were only interested in the people who were circumcising the girls.
The raid comes at a time when leaders and elders from the Kuria community are divided on whether or not the community should stop the practice altogether.
