Kikuyu elders have said this year’s circumcision of boys will go on as scheduled at the end of the year despite the changes in the education system.
According to a section of the elders from the Kiama kia Ma led by Kung’u Muigai, the plans are too late to change as the boys have prepared themselves psychologically.
“If we deny the boys the chance to be circumcised because they are still in primary school, some will commit suicide and others will attempt to circumcise themselves, which is dangerous and yet they have prepared themselves. They also do not want to be laughed at by their predecessors, leading to stigmatization,” Kung’u said.
The national patron differed with another faction of elders who had earlier announced that there will be no circumcision since the school curriculum changed to Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which domiciles Grade 8 in primary schools.
It has been the norm for boys to be circumcised after they attain the age of 14, or when they complete class 8 after doing their KCPE examinations.
He called upon the elders who are mandated to conduct the circumcision ceremony to prepare themselves for the occasion and also asked parents to present their sons to the elders when the time comes.
In 2022, elders in Nyeri town adjusted the circumcision age from 14 to 12 years.
The change was necessitated by the CBC, which has seen boys transition from primary to Junior Secondary School (JSS) at 12 years.
The elders have also continued to differ with the church on circumcision, remaining adamant that the ceremony should only be conducted by the elders and the church to stick to its religious doctrine.
YOU MAY ALSO READ:
Over 71,000 teachers promoted in last five years, TSC CEO says
By Felix Wanderi
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
