New program launched to boost fight against FGM in Samburu County

Despite the presidential directive to end Female Genital Mutilation in the country by end of this year, it seems the harmful cultural practice will not end any time soon.

World Vision in partnership with the government have launched a new five-yea program to end FGM in Samburu East and Samburu North, areas that are considered to be recording high prevalence.

 Samburu East MP Jackson Lekumontare said that residents of some areas in his constituency including Wamba North, Uaso have never been reached with anti-FGM programs in the past.

 It has been established that the desire for marriage is contributing to the high prevalence of FGM in the county as men are not ready to marry non-circumcised girls.

 Head of World Vision from the United States of America Joanne Korandu said girls are pursuing FGM even when their parents are against it in some cases.

 “Even in circumstances where their families are anti-FGM, the girls take themselves for the cut,” she said.

 Samburu county Commissioner Henry Wafula asked locals to adhere to anti-FGM laws in order to protect girls from being subjected to harmful practices. 

Technical Program Manager in charge of child protection at World Vision Kenya Alex Kariuki said that the new program will target men, women and youths in nine wards of Samburu East and Samburu North areas with different strategies.

 “In some cases FGM has become economic income-generating activity so we are saying how can we get an alternative sources of income, we will be having programs of couching to men and talking to boys so that they can understand the harmful effects of FGM and why they should support girls to be taken to school,” he said.

 Samburu county deputy Julius Leseeto said the leaders and county government will support fully implementation of the program to protect girls and support them access education.

 “The elders themselves agreed to end FGM and as leaders we are supporting them in ensuring that our girls are free from FGM,” he said at Maralal after attending the launch of the program.