Irony as feast for initiates held near rally against FGM
Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs Sicily Kariuki joins Marakwet traditional dancers during International Anti-FGM Day celebrations at the Kerio Valley Boys Secondary School IN Elgeyo-Marakwet County on February 7, 2016. PHOTO | KNA
What you need to know:
Concern has been raised over the hurdles faced in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation with 9.3 million cases so far reported in Kenya.
Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and local MPs did not show up with allegations rife that they were in a dilemma as most of their voters embraced FGM.
An elder, Mr Joseph Chesir, told the Nation that most of the politicians had stayed away from the government event because they support FGM.
In an ironic twist of events, a government rally to educate locals on the dangers of female circumcision was met with an unusual defiance by residents of Kerio Valley in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
As Youth Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki arrived at Kerio Valley Secondary School on Saturday for the campaign, some four kilometres away, villagers celebrated the “graduation” of over 700 girls who faced the knife last December.
Concern has been raised over the hurdles faced in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation with 9.3 million cases so far reported in Kenya.
Also present at the rally were Youth Principal Secretary Zeinab Hussein along with Anti-FGM board co-ordinator Linah Jebii Kilimo, Governor Alex Tolgos and County Commissioner Matilda Sakwa.
Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and local MPs did not show up with allegations rife that they were in a dilemma as most of their voters embraced FGM.
The Nation established that the low public turnout at the government event was because most locals were attending the “graduation” in Sakat and Kimong’o-lagam where colourful celebrations were underway.
The helicopter carrying officials hovered above the parallel celebrations at Sakat and Kimong’o-lagam, as if to intimidate the locals, but this did not deter them from reaching the climax of their rituals.
SOCIAL VALUES
Speaking at the traditional fete, one of the locals described the anti-FGM celebration next door as going against societal values.
An elder, Mr Joseph Chesir, told the Nation that most of the politicians had stayed away from the government event because they support FGM.
“Can’t you ask yourself why our MPs and senator aren’t at that venue? It is because the government understands that people have their right to embrace their culture. The one in Kerio Valley belong to Kilimo and chiefs and ours belong to the society,” he said.
Ms Kariuki said the number of girls circumcised in December across Kerio Valley was 1,200.
“We hope what you did last December will be the last one and we hope to come here next time on development programs and not to remind you about this barbaric practice,” he said.
