By Enock Okong’o
Kisii Centre for Community Mobilization Group has appealed to Kisii county governor Simba Arati to set aside funds to will help in eradicating the practice of
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the county because it is detrimental to the victims.
Speaking in Kisii, the Group CEO Mrs Stellah Achoki said the practice has not stopped in the region despite the government’s announcement of its illegality.
She blamed chiefs and their assistants for not fighting hard to eradicate the practice entirely and instead choosing to accept bribes from the law perpetrators at the expense of the girl child’s safety.
“There are still private practitioners who connive with ignorant parents to circumcise their girls,” she said.
The officer said that the practice should not be allowed because it derails the education of the girl child while exposing her to untold physical and mental harm.
“The provision of sustainable education to the Kenyan girl child will not succeed unless her background problems are solved,” she added.
She added that their biggest challenge was lack of funds to help them run their mission of fighting the vice effectively.
Mrs. Achoki asked the government to encourage community policing in order to eradicate FGM practices in the area.
She expressed her determination to fight the vice and eliminate it completely with the help of fellow vibrant members of the organization.
“I’m encouraged since I have the support of members of the organization who are able to spearhead the campaign against the violation of a girl child’s right,” she said.
She said that her organization will strive to empower the vulnerable members of the community to take charge of their lives and improve their living conditions.
“We believe by creating awareness, we are able to transform the lives of groups,” she added.
The CEO also promised that her group will continue with civic education at the grass root level by promoting capacity building and socio- economic empowerment as the main tools of fighting FGM.
She congratulated other organizations like churches and Scouting and Girl Guide Society of Kenya for their effort to fight evil in the society.
