Five women who underwent FGM in Meru jailed for 3 years

Five women who underwent FGM at Kiagu, Meru County will spend 3 years in jail or pay Ksh. 200,000 fine for procuring the procedure.

Florence Kiende, Caroline Wanja, Charity Karimi, Charity Muthoni and Winfred Kawira pleaded guilty on Friday.

They had appeared before Resident Magistrate Evelyn Wachira Ndegwa and been charged with seeking and undergoing FGM from an initiator on different occasions.

The Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act, 2011 criminalises the practice.

The crime attracts a punishment of between three years and life imprisonment.

Criminal offences mentioned in the Act include procuring, aiding and abetting; performance of FGM; allowing the use of premises for FGM as well as possession of tools and equipment for the purposes of FGM.

Failing to report such incidents to police and using derogatory or abusive language against a woman for having not
undergone FGM is also punishable under Kenyan law.

FGM under medical professionals or midwives is also outlawed.

The Kenyan Government has prioritised the fight against the vice.

Public Service, Youth and Gender CS Margaret Kobia recently launched the National Policy for Eradication of FGM, 2019.

““It provides for the review and harmonisation of all gender-related laws and policies to align them to the Constitution,” the CS told a local daily.