By RUTH MBULA | Journalist
MAASAI ELDERS DENOUNCE OUTDATED CULTURAL PRACTICES
A section of Maasai elders from Trans Mara have denounced outdated cultural practices like Moranism and Female Genital Mutilation saying they had impacted negatively on the community.
Speaking during a pre- initiation ceremony for a group of boys held at Osupuko Hills Springs Children home, the elders called on the Maasai community to abandon the outdated cultural practices and embrace modern way of living.
They said though the move may seem to conflict with what most members of their community of their generation believe, it was for the well being of the future generations.
They said that they know that their people are still rooted in the retrogressive cultural practices, but it is time they told them the truth.
The elders from the Ilnyangusi and Seuri age sets that characterise the elderly in the Maasai community said FGM had denied the girl child in the Maasai community education while moranism had denied the boy child right to education.
Mr Olelemwa Seitai said they are now advocating for modern circumcision of boys where boys are taught matters adulthood in a Christian background and civilised manner and finally circumcised by a trained health personnel.
He said Maasai land lacked enough professionals because most of their children had not gone to school and urged the community to embrace education in a bid to raise an elite community.
Mr Juusi Ole Mantu said the community should only embrace helpful practices and abandon the harmful old practices. He said old and new practices should be made to align for the well being of the community.
Mr William Ole Karante said education was key to success and urged that the new generation should do away with retrogressive culture.
He condemned circumcision of girls saying uncircumcised women were women enough just like the circumcised ones.
He added that the community must gear up to compete with other communities in the world and the only possible way is by educating their children.
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