Five married women arrested for undergoing FGM

Five women in Laikipia West Sub County have been arrested for participating in Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) within the county.

The suspects were arrested Tuesday morning within Lorien Village on the outskirts of Rumuruti trading centre following a tip-off from the area chief on Monday evening.

Laikipia West Assistant County Commissioner Samuel Kiarie confirmed that 11 women were involved in the practice but they only managed to arrest five of them upon their arrival in the village.

“All the women that were circumcised are actually young married women with children. It is unfortunate that this is happening due to cultural pressures that come with the age set system,” he said, adding that none of the victims were underage.

The young women were reportedly forced to undergo the cut by their husbands and elders.

Those taken into custody include three women who had just undergone the cut, a caretaker and an elderly woman who was conducting the practice.

Lorien Location Chief Jackson Cheruiyot echoed Kiarie’s sentiments saying that this was the first time such an incident has been reported within the county.

“It is shocking to discover that FGM is being practiced within the area, but now that we have discovered it, we will make sure that it is dealt with.”

The suspects are set to appear in court on Wednesday, November 30.

Written by Velma Barasa