Our girls must undergo the cut, elders declare
What you need to know:
- The elders who spoke on Saturday after a three-day meeting at Kisima Primary School in Samburu Central, said the girls will not necessarily be married off after recovering, but will be allowed to continue with school.
- Mr John Longonyek, an elder, said circumcising girls was an important rite of passage that must continue.
- “This has been part of our culture for many years. All of us here were born of circumcised women,” Mr Longonyek said.
- Most of the elders who spoke at the meeting said they are against early marriages. They are also encouraging parents to take girls to school.
Over 2,000 elders from the nine Samburu clans have resolved that circumcision of girls must continue.
This is despite spirited campaigns by government and non-governmental organisations to end the practice.
The elders who spoke on Saturday after a three-day meeting at Kisima Primary School in Samburu Central, said the girls will not necessarily be married off after recovering, but will be allowed to continue with school.
The elders from Lkiroro, the oldest Samburu age set with members of 45 years and above, form the Samburu council of elders. The council also known as Lopiro, is entrusted with the responsibility of giving direction to the community.
Politicians and strangers were barred from the meeting. However, the leaders who included Governor Moses Lenolkulal, MPs Mr Alois Lentoimaga (Samburu North), Mr Lati Lelelit (Samburu West), Woman Representative Lmaison Leshoomo, Nominated Senator Naisula Lesuuda and a several MCAs were, however, allowed into the closing ceremony.
RITE OF PASSAGE
The leaders steered clear of the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) debate and instead dwelt on the issue of the need to use public funds properly.
Mr John Longonyek, an elder, said circumcising girls was an important rite of passage that must continue.
“This has been part of our culture for many years. All of us here were born of circumcised women,” Mr Longonyek said.
“The NGOs and the government should stop telling us to stop it because they are yet to give us convincing reasons,” he argued.
Most of the elders who spoke at the meeting said they are against early marriages. They are also encouraging parents to take girls to school. However, they all threw their weight behind circumcision of girls.
Senator Lesuuda steered clear of the FGM debate and instead called for prudent use of public funds.
The elders also called on the government to step up efforts to stem rampant insecurity in the area. They lamented that highway robberies were on the rise and urged that more police officers be posted to Samburu.
