NGO claims girl was ‘cut’ and blocks fees

A 15-year-old girl’s dream of a secondary school education has been shattered after her sponsor stopped funding her, claiming she had been circumcised secretly.

But the girl, a student at State House Girls High School in Nairobi, says she has not been circumcised.

She was preparing to proceed to Form Two this year when her stepmother was summoned by the management of the Girls’ Centre in Suswa, Narok County, which was funding her education.

“I was told that my daughter will not continue getting support because she had been circumcised,” the student told the Nation on Wednesday at the children’s office in Narok Town.

She denied she was circumcised and the Children’s Department referred her to Narok District Hospital where an examination established she had not been circumcised.

The medical report says there were no visible injuries on her genitals.

Narok County children officer Julius Ngoko said when he called the girls’ centre, he was given contradictory information. “They first said they sent her home because she had been circumcised, but a day later they said they had run out of funds,” he said.

The centre has a primary school that enrols girls from poor pastoralist families in Narok and Kajiado counties.

One of its objectives is fighting female circumcision.

Centre officials could not be reached for comment. The premises were locked.

State House Girls High requires Sh45,080 in fees for this term. The girl’s parents don’t have it.

Ms Nkunyet said the girl is depressed. “She spends most of her time crying. She is traumatised and some times wakes up very early and walks aimlessly. All she wants is to return to school,” said Ms Nkunyet.