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ISSUE 054, January 16 - 31, 2012
Unfiltered, uninhibited…just the gruesome truth
Parents outwit system to circumcise daughters in Tanzania By ODHIAMBO ODHIAMBO Despite the Anti-FGM Act and the Children’s Act outlawing the Female Genital Mutilation practise, the practice is alive and kicking in Kuria where the community seems to defy the law to continue with the illegal act. But the community has managed to escape the long arm of the law by taking young girls aged between seven and 15 years for circumcision in Tanzania where such laws are nonexistent. Some of the traditional circumcisers from Kuria West and Kuria East in Kenya crossed the border to carry out the surgery at a fee in Tanzania. Here they are charged between KSh200 and KSh500 per initiate. Members of the Kuria community are found on both sides of the Kenya – Tanzania border. In December 2011, excited families whose girls had been circumcised danced along the Sirare –Tarime highway, thereby causing huge traffic snarl-ups. The circumcision of girls, also referred to as FGM, coincided with the boys’ cut. In the Kenyan Kuria region, at least over 400 girls have been rescued from the knife by various non–governmental organisations who have set up rescue centres in Kuria West and Kuria East districts. But some of the parents protested the move and said they will circumcise their daughters immediately they return home from the camps. “Nobody will marry my daughter in the community if she is not circumcised. I do not want my family to be a laughing stock, my girl will have to be cut no matter how long it takes,” said Mzee Wario Chacha. Chacha’s ten-year old
daughter is among the rescued girls currently undergoing alternative rite of passage at a rescue camp.
Rescued girls
Augustine Mwera, the director of the host organisation, Volunteers Young Organization for Poverty Eradication in the Community (VYOPEC) feared the number of rescued girls could increase because all clans in the area were now circumcising their girls. “The exercise is just kicking off and many more will be coming here to escape it,” he said adding that although initially they had planned to take only 50 girls into the Ntimaru rescue centre. The centre has been forced to accommodate more because the girls had nowhere to go to. Mwera is calling upon the government and well-wishers to donate food, mosquito nets and sanitary towels to help the organization deal with the increased demand. At the same time, a meeting chaired by the Kehancha DO, Esther Lelei resolved to establish rescue centres at St Mary’s Mabera School in Kuria West District and at St Joseph Secondary School in Ntimaru in Kuria East district to accommodate young girls running away from forced circumcision. It is estimated that 50,000 girls are living under the threat of forced circumcision in Kuria West and Kuria East Districts. A research study conducted by the NGO, The Care and Support Centre Kenya (LICASU) showed that these girls were aged between five and 15 years. The organisation has so far rescued over 200 girls running from FGM. LICASU executive director Matiko Chacha said the situation was grave and needed urgent
“Nobody will marry my daughter in the community if she is not circumcised. I do not want my family to be a laughing stock, my girl will have to be cut no matter how long it takes.” — Mzee Wario Chacha
From left: Three deaf girls who had been rescued from FGM perform during an alternative right of passage. Janet Naning’oi, 20, who defiled odds and refused FGM is now a university student. Pictures: Lucy Langat and Odhiambo Odhiambo
attention from all stakeholders including political leaders, clerics, teachers, provincial administration and parents. LICASU usually takes the girls to Ikerege Secondary School where they undergo alternative rite of passage. At this rescue centre, the girls are sensitised on the dangers of FGM and its impact on their education. “FGM is leading to massive drop out from schools due to early marriages that happen after the girls have been circumcised,” says Chacha. A couple of weeks ago the Kuria West District Commissioner James Mugwe threatened to take disciplinary action against any chief found to tolerate the female cut in his area. Only girls from elite families are protected from the cut by family members who relocate them to other regions during the circumcision season. In the past, most Kenyan girls would undergo FGM when they were between seven and 10
years. However, FGM seems to be occurring at earlier ages in several countries because parents want to reduce trauma to their children. They also want to avoid government interference and resistance from their children as they get older and form their own opinions. FGM is practiced in at least 26 of 43 African countries and prevalence varies from 98 percent in Somalia to five per cent in Zaire. In Kenya, according to the 2003 Kenyan Demographic Survey (KDHS), 32 percent of all Kenyan women aged between 15 and 49 years have been circumcised.
Alarm as health officers circumcise girls By Parsai Joto Advocates engaged in initiatives to eradicate the traditional practice of circumcising young girls are worried that involvement of health practitioners in performing the cut will reverse the gains made in the war against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The practice is being shifted away from secluded areas like in the bush and public glare to established medical institutions. “Reports that the practice has declined in some African countries is being threatened by its medicalisation,” said the assistant representative of United Nations Population Fund, Dr Stephen Wanyaee. Dr Wanyaee told delegates at the International Conference against FGM in Nairobi, or-
ganised by the University of Nairobi: “Parents are now seeking the services of health practitioners in order to avoid the health risks associated with the practice.” Kenya is among a number of countries in Africa where a decline in the prevalence of the practice has been reported. Although the Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) indicates that some areas still have high prevalence of up to 90 per cent, it notes that the practice has declined from 38 per cent in 2003 to 32 per cent in 2008/2009 had been registered. “The decline is mainly due to community dialogue rather than to adoption of a confrontational approach,” noted Dr Wanyee. “There has also been great political will on the part of the government, religious organisations, support from development partners as
well as engagement of men and young boys.” A major milestone in the war against the practice widely being cited by supporters and the international community is the signing into law by President Mwai Kibaki of the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2011.
New law
Assistant minister for co-operative development and marketing and anti FGM campaigner Linah Jebii Kilimo said the bill assented last September now prohibits the practice. Dr Kilimo told delegates at the forum graced by the vice-chancellor of the University of Nairobi, Prof George Magoha that new law safeguards against violation of a person’s mental or physical integrity through the practice of FGM.
“Though being performed by trained medical staff in hospitals, this trend might reduce the immediate pain or risk of infection, it does not prevent long-term complications or psychological trauma,” said Kilimo. “FGM must be seen as representing a danger to women’s health as well as a violation of human rights. The medicalisation of the practice is not acceptable.” To stop the practice, UNFPA and UNICEF have been supporting the government to train practitioners on the risks associated with the practice and on the new law. Prof Magoha said it is not possible for a nation to attain sustainable development by marginalising a portion of its population by perpetuating traditions that kick the girl child out of school.