By Magdaline Majuma | Project Lead
Despite Kenya outlawing FGM in 2011, putting stringent penalties on perpetrators with offenses including aiding or abetting FGM, possessing tools to carry out the practice, and a person carrying out FGM. Late November 2022 marked the beginning of mass Female Genital Mutilation/Cut in the Kuria Community for all 4 clans Bugumbe, Bukira, Nyabasi and Bwirege, families and parents across the Kuria region, made invitations to their neighbors without thinking of the safety of their daughters to celebrate their cut. This marked the saddest days of girls as young as 8 years old to 17 years of age. The Kuria Community paraded girls in different villages as they celebrated their cut, Girls ran away from their homes to seek help in our offices, other organizations, and various government offices. We received overwhelming calls from girls at risk of FGM within the community; we also received reports from the community members of girls who needed to be rescued. In partnership with government officials, area chiefs, the children's office, and the police department, we supported referrals for girls, including rescuing girls at risk of the cut, and linking girls to adolescent/youth-friendly centers within the community. We supported approximately 500 girls within 6 rescue centers, police stations, and children's homes, and those seeking help at our office, within the community, and those who were at risk of undergoing the FGM/Cut,we also supported the police department who offered security at the rescue centers to keep off the community members who were planning attacks at the various centers Girls ran away from their homes without clothing to change and lacked basic essentials, we had to support girls with transport to the health facilities, police stations, and court sessions, foodstuffs to sustain them during the FGM period, clothing including panties, sandals, shoes, menstrual care essentials, beddings, mosquito nets, and Psychosocial support. As the season comes to an end, there continues to be a need for proper systems of reintegrating the girls back into their families and communities. We are working closely with;partners, stakeholders, and the government to ensure the reintegration process is safe and successful.
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By Magdaline Majuma | Project Lead
By Magdaline Majuma | Project Lead
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