South Mugirango Constituency has been singled out as one of the areas that still practice the outlawed female genital mutilation.
Kisii County Woman Representative Doris Aburi said the practitioners connive with some money-hungry nurses to cut their daughters privately in their homes.
Aburi urged residents to discard the old practice because it has diverse effects on the victims.
“Apart from being bypassed with time, the practice leads to the spread of diseases and early pregnancies. ” She said.
The legislator asked the traditional female cutters who regard the archaic practice as an income generator to find different businesses to earn a living.
She said her office is ready to provide seed capital to those who abandon the practice to start small businesses.
The Woman Rep asked women from the area to form or join women groups to enable them to get loans and grants from the government.
Saying that educating a boy is equivalent to helping a household, she asked parents to provide more education to the girl child because educating her is equivalent to educating the world.
In order to fight the FGM that has taken deep root in the country she said her office has organized a one-week seminar to train girls between 7 and 17 years of age on the effects of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
She said the exercise will take place at Nduru Girls’ High School and asked parents to send their daughters for sensitization.
Among the lessons the girls will learn are the effects of Female Genital Mutilation, how to prevent early pregnancies, drug abuse and other general hygiene practices.
She revealed experienced teachers and renowned motivational speakers will speak at the camp.
Aburi said the exercise will be an annual event.
“We are going to roll out the annual calendar for this to enable parents from all over the country to allow their daughters to attend.” She said.
She asked church leaders and other community leaders to support the course because it has good plans for safeguarding the lives of the girl child.
By Enock Okong’o
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