This archive report was first published on 5 January 2020.
Kenya: Changing Tides As Men Lead War Against Female Circumcision ¶
On a typical day in Kalpunyany village, Baringo County, a group of morans would gather under a tree to discuss how to ensure the continuation of female genital mutilation (FGM), a deeply rooted cultural practice in the region. However, in recent years, this has not been the case for these hardliners, who have now come out strongly against FGM.
Mr. John Karani, a 42-year-old pastoralist and father of four daughters, has vowed never to let them undergo FGM. He made this decision after witnessing his sisters and aunts go through physical and psychological torment as a result of the cut.
"My father had many wives and daughters, who got married early after circumcision. They didn't go to school and some died while giving birth as a result of injuries sustained during circumcision. So after school I learnt that these incidents were as a result of being circumcised, contrary to the initial misconception that it was a woman's fault," he explains.
Mr. Lukudosia Elengai, a 35-year-old moran and father of 10, including five daughters, is among the people waging war against the practice. He barely speaks even Swahili, but his sentiments are shared by Mr. Karani.
"We have had cases of young girls and women bleeding to death, losing their children and dying during childbirth. We are thus ready to fight this vice," Mr. Elengai asserts.
Despite facing discrimination and ridicule from those who still hold the old tradition dear, these men have remained resolute in their stance against FGM.
According to Mr. Julius Mukudia, the chairman of the council of elders in Tapat Ward, Pokot West, FGM cases in Kapenguria have reduced by more than half. He attributes this to education and the implementation of tough laws against the practice.
West Pokot County Commissioner Okello Apolo also notes that cases of FGM have reduced, leading to a low school dropout rate among girls. "We have witnessed 86 per cent transition from primary to secondary schools as per last year's statistics. This year, over 140,000 pupils sat their KCPE exams and we expect the transition to remain high," he says.
However, despite these efforts to eradicate the vice, there is still a long way to go. According to the 2014 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, cases of FGM reduced from 27 per cent in 2008 to 21 per cent in 2009, but the practice is still rampant.
Mr. John Wafula, a humanitarian programme specialist at The United Nations Population Fund, notes that there are still those practising the vice in secrecy. He advocates for a holistic approach to eradicate FGM, including education and advocacy at the national level.
