ELDERS FROM SAMBURU COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN TARGETTED IN THE WARS AGAINST FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

Amref Health Africa through its Koota Injena project has sensitized and persuaded elders from Samburu community against Female Genital mutilation through community dialogues on six mountains.

Koota Injena project’s Coordinator Viola Ruto  said there will be one final major event next month to come up with a permanent way of ending FGM and early marriages among girls after her team sensitized elders on Mt Nyiro,  Wamba, Ndoto, Loroghi, Kulal and Marsabit.

“The best way to end FGM, stop early marriages and improve value of girls is through elders of samburu community and that is where we have met with elders from the six mountains,” she said.

While speaking at Mt kulal during a program of ending FGM, Chairperson of Anti-FGM board Agnes Parei said elders must be included in the war against FGM as they have been claiming female circumcision is part of their culture.

“FGM is a form of violence against women and girls and we have had to reach out to elders to find a way of ending it as the community claims it is their culture.” She said.

She said the community has been sensitized on the harmful effects of FGM and laws that prohibited the cut in Kenya.

“We have agreed that they will have no option than ending FGM, they have said we organize a meeting at Nyiro and invite leaders where FGM will be declared to have been removed from Samburu community’s culture.” She said.