Activist urges politicians to support fight against FGM

Samburu Girls Foundation founder and director Josephine Kulea has told politicians in Samburu County to help in the campaign against Female Genital Mutilation, a practice which is prevalent in the area.

While marking the international day of the girl child at Cana Girls Rescue Centre in Samburu on Tuesday, Josephine Kulea said politicians from Samburu County have never attended anti-FGM events for fear of losing votes in elections.

The Anti-FGM campaigner noted that there is a higher mortality and malnutrition rate in Samburu County because many women are still being forced into circumcision and marriages at an early age.

“The Samburu customs are too conservative and we want it to stop. It is not fair when parents subject their daughters who are as young as 15 years old to FGM. Our politicians should help us in campaigning against this practice,” she said.

The harmful cultural practice, which goes hand in hand with forced marriages and early pregnancies have forced many girls to drop out of school in Samburu County.

Some of the young girls who were rescued from the retrogressive culture also encouraged their counterparts to refuse to take part in the practice and pursue their education to university level.

According to a research by scientist Tammary Esho, FGM practice in the Samburu community is at 86 per cent.