FGM cases on the decline, says Kilimo

Kenya has recorded a six per cent decline in Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) cases in the last five years, the Anti-FGM Board chairperson Jebii Kilimo has said.

Speaking on Saturday at Kirimankari Boarding Primary School in Tharaka-Nithi during an Anti-FGM campaign by Plan International, Ms Kilimo said the drop is the highest in the world.

The Plan International campaign is dubbed “stop FGM and invest in girls’ education”.

However, she said the practice is still prevalent in several parts of the country and called upon Kenyans to join hands in fighting the vice.

'NO RELAXING'

“We cannot relax due to the drop because the prevalence rate is still high, at 21 per cent nationally,” said Ms Kilimo.

She noted that the practice is common in pastoralist communities where more than 50 per cent of young girls undergo the cut.

She said the practice also exists among the Meru community especially in the less developed regions like Tharaka, Igembe and some parts of Tigania.

“This narrative by the pastoralist communities that uncircumcised women cannot remain faithful in absence of their men has made it hard to end the practice there,” she said.

Ms Kilimo noted an increase in number of girls dropping out of school due to early marriage in less developed regions.

She said African countries are projected to have completely ended early marriages by 2025 and Kenya is set to launch the campaign soon.

She was accompanied by Tharaka-Nithi Woman Representative Ms Beatrice Nkatha among other guests.