Residents of Samburu East have been urged to abandon harmful cultural practices, including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and early marriages, in a renewed push to protect the rights of young girls.
Anti-FGM advocate Josephine Kulea warned that authorities will take firm action against anyone involved in the illegal practices.
“A child has her own rights which must be respected; FGM is a criminal activity. Whoever is found practising it will be arrested, charged and jailed by a court of law,” Kulea said.
An officer in charge of the anti-FGM programme at World Vision, Josphie Leturju, noted a worrying trend where more girls are subjected to FGM in preparation for early marriages.
“The world has changed, and many of our girls are dropping out of school for FGM and early marriages. I ask parents to cooperate in protecting and advising our children against harmful cultural practices,” she said.
Leturju emphasised the importance of education, urging parents to allow their daughters to remain in school and build a better future.
Over 250 girls graduated after undergoing a two-week mentorship programme and participated in an alternative rite of passage—an initiative designed to preserve cultural traditions without the harmful practice of circumcision.
“We came up with an alternative rite of passage where we can fulfil all cultural stages apart from the act of circumcising a girl,” Leturju explained.
READ ALSO: Shun outdated cultural practices, Governors plead
The girls, who were officially recognised as anti-FGM ambassadors, received blessings from community elders during a cultural prayer ceremony.
Both elders and participants pledged to champion the fight against FGM in their villages by raising awareness about its dangers and encouraging communities to abandon the practice.
By Kimutai Langat
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
>>> Click here to stay ahead with the latest national news.
