13 women have been arrested for allegedly agreeing to undergo Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Narok south subcounty Sagamian location.
Felix Kisalu, Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) of Narok South said the women aged between 26 years old and 52 were arrested at 5am Thursday morning while at the home of one Juliana Chepng’eno Bore where they had been subjected to FGM.
Kisalu said they received reports from members of the public who informed authorities of the illegal activity prompting the police in the company of area chief to storm the house in the early morning hours where the women were gathered.
“The women are detained at the Ololulunga police station as they await to be taken to the hospital where they will be confirmed if they have undergone the cut or not,” Kisalu said.
The DCC reported that cases of FGM are still common in the area despite several sensitization programs that have been conducted by the government and non-state partners.
“Cases of adult FGM area common and they are attributed to retrogressive cultural beliefs and traditions. Everybody should know that FGM is illegal whether performed on an adult or a child,” he reiterated.
He urged religious and political leaders to add their voices to the fight against the vice as he encouraged the members of the public to report illegal practices in their localities.
He later commended the members of public that raised brows on the issue and informed the police on the matter and urged te rest to emulate them in the spirit of stopping Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Pauline Naikumi, a gender officer at the Narok County Government said many married women choose to undergo the cut at an advanced age out of fear of being bullied by their colleagues.
“The culture dictates that a woman who has not undergone the cut cannot circumcise her son. This is one of the strong reasons why they choose to undergo the cut even at an old age,” she said.
The Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act (2011) was passed on 30 September 2011 and enforced on 4 October 2011. Part IV of the Act criminalizes female genital mutilation (FGM). The Act also provides that if FGM is carried out and causes death, the perpetrator will be liable to imprisonment for life.