Parents of circumcised girl jailed

Migori Town. PHOTO/STEPHEN MUDIARI

What you need to know:

  • The prosecution informed the court that the girl was secretly taken to the hospital by her parents after bleeding profusely as a result of the cut, administered at home by a traditional circumciser.

A court in Migori County has committed a couple to three years in jail or a fine of Sh300,000 each for forcibly circumcising their under-age daughter.

Samuel and Jane Mabanga from Kuria were convicted by Kehancha court acting principal magistrate Alloys Ndege after being found guilty of subjecting their 13-year-old daughter to female genital mutilation.

The two committed the offence in December last year at Kebarisia Village in Nyabikongori sub-location of Kuria East Sub-County.

They were arrested at Kehancha Sub-County hospital after health officers alerted the police and the Children’s Department.

The prosecution informed the court that the girl was secretly taken to the hospital by her parents after bleeding profusely as a result of the cut, administered at home by a traditional circumciser.

The magistrate said the offence was grave as the little girl was subjected to an act that almost cost her life. She said heavy punishment would deter parents from risking the lives of their children.