22 women jailed for undergoing FGM in Kericho

Twenty two women were on Friday jailed for four months by a Kericho court for undergoing the prohibited practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

The 22 are; Gladys Langat (27), Fancy Ngeno (27), Mercy Bii (32), Betty Kirui (25), Sheila Koech (31), Sheila Rono (26), Mercy Kirui (26), Doreen Kirui (24), Mercy Cherotich (23), Caren Tanui (28), Sheila Terer (24), Joan Langat (26), Judy Langat (25), Sharon Sang (25), Sheila Mibei (26), Caroline Cheruiyot (30), Mercy Cheruiyot (27), Sharon Rotich (26), Vicky Cheruiyot (25), Faith Sang (21), Maurine Mibei (26), and Daisy Korir (27).

The court heard that the accused persons – on diverse dates between October 26 and  November 2, 2020 at Kaptele village in Bureti sub-county – having knowledge of the planned process failed to report to a law enforcement officer contrary to the prohibition of the FGM Act.

Three police officers who reportedly stormed the scene of the act after receiving a tip-off found the women in two different grass-thatched huts, each covering themselves with blankets.

The officers then notified the area police commander upon which the women were arrested and marched to the Litein Police Station where they were booked.

They were later escorted to Kapkatet sub-county hospital where clinical tests confirmed that they had indeed undergone FGM.

Appearing before before Kericho Resident Magistrate Elizabeth Karani, the women pleaded guilty stating that they underwent the process willingly, however pleading for leniency from the court.

Magistrate Karani directed the accused persons to pay a Ksh.20,000 fine each or serve a jail term of four months in default.

The accused persons all failed to raise the fine and are currently serving the sentence at the Kericho GK Women Prison.

They were however given 14 days to appeal the sentence.