BY TONY WAFULA
Sabaot Council of Elders have declared the end to the retrogressive female genital mutilation (FGM) activities in their communities after a three-year Kenya- Finland bilateral programme that seeks to end the practice.
Peter Chepkirui, an elder from the Sabaot community declared that they have agreed to end the harmful practice.
“We have gone through training where the experts talked to us on the side effects of female genital mutilation and gender-based violence. We are dedicated to continue spreading information on the same,” Chepkirui said.
Anti- FGM board CEO Bernadette Loloju noted that FGM is one of the most severe forms of gender-based violence that women and girls undergo.
Loloju said the practice is detrimental to the physical, social and emotional well-being of women and girls, adding that it also is a human rights violation that has a trickle effect on the country’s social, economic and political development.
She explained that FGM entails all procedures involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or any other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
Finland Embassy head of cooperation Annu Rantala applauded the Kenyan government for cooperating with the Finnish government to fighting FGM in Bungoma, Samburu and Kilifi counties.
“This is a particular pleasure for me to be here today to witness the signing of the Anti- FGM declaration. It has been a long journey for the Kenya- Finland bilateral programme that aims to strengthen prevention and response on gender-based violence,” Rantala said.
Rantala further asked other communities to declare FGM a thing of the past.
“The steps that this programme has taken involved the whole and full ownership of the Sabaot elders. They are the ones doing this sensitization, engaging the community with different segments of leaders. They know who to engage, and that culminated to this declaration,” she said.
The diplomat lauded the Anti- FGM board for identifying the 22 hotpots in Kenya where the sensitization was directed, noting that according to the latest 2022 survey, FGM fight has reached 15%.
Rantala said the Finnish government is undertaking initiatives that support the rights of girls and women, a priority policy in Finland.
“We believe that gender equal societies are better societies, we support programmes and actors who are committed to end violence against women and girls including FGM,” she noted.
According to the UNICEF report, it is estimated that at least 200 million girls and women alive today have been subjected to FGM in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. It further stated that in Kenya, about 9.3 million girls and women have undergone FGM.
According to Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS). the national prevalence of FGM among women and girls aged 15-49 years has gradually declined from 38% in 1998, 32% in 2003, 27% in 2008-2009, 21% 2014 and 15% in 2022.
To help address the high numbers of FGM the Anti-FGM Board in collaboration with partners developed an acceleration plan to end FGM by 2022 which was adopted by the Cabinet in February 2020. The cost action plans provided a road map and the resources required towards the realization of the directive.
“A Multi-Agency Technical Team was created to spear head the acceleration of the eradication of FGM by 2022. The team comprised of Technical and focal persons from the Ministry of Health, Interior and Coordination of National Functions, Education, Public Service and Gender, Information Communication, innovation and youth Affairs, East African Community, Labour and Social Protection, Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) and the Anti-FGM Board,” Loloju said.
Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage PS Anne Wang’ombe expressed her disappointment on men who still beat their wives.
“It is very sad that at this point in time, we still have men who beat their wives and vice versa. This is the time to say no to gender- based violence,” Wang’ombe said.
She added that the government is committed to ensuring that women are empowered, citing National Affirmative Action Fund and Women Enterprise Fund as some of the programmes that the government is rolling out.
“Please, women, form groups and apply for these funds that can help you run empowerment activities,” she urged.
Deputy Governors Pastor Jenipher Mbatiany and Philomena Kapkory were present and committed to supporting anti- FGM efforts.
