Alarm as Married Women Undergo Female Genital Mutilation in Parts of Nakuru

Despite ongoing efforts by government agencies and civil society organizations to eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM), the harmful practice has resurfaced in parts of Nakuru County, raising serious concern among community leaders, educators, and health professionals.

The red flag has been raised over a growing number of married women undergoing FGM in Mauche Ward, Njoro Sub-County, a trend that diverges from previous years when the practice primarily targeted young girls. Recent reports indicate that over 100 individuals have undergone the illegal procedure this year, with a significant proportion being married women or young mothers.

Ms. Sheila Cheruiyot, a teacher at Koilonget Mixed Secondary School, revealed that social pressures and stigmatization force married women to undergo the rite in order to be accepted in communities where uncircumcised women are frowned upon. “With that tag, they feel inadequate and lacking a sense of belonging,” she explained during a three-day outreach program that brought together more than 400 participants, including parents, learners, religious leaders, law enforcement officers, and community representatives.

The outreach, organized by local teachers, Community Health Promoters (CHP), village elders, and two community-based organizations—Let’s Talk About It Initiative and Soar Kenya Foundation—aimed to sensitize residents about the dangers of adhering to outdated cultural practices.

Ms. Cheruiyot highlighted that child marriage and FGM are often justified by parents as ways to protect girls from premarital sex or secure their futures. “In reality, these practices violate girls’ rights and have devastating consequences on their health, education, and safety,” she added. FGM can lead to severe pain, excessive bleeding, infections, infertility, and life-threatening complications during childbirth, while also increasing school dropout rates and exposing girls to violence.

Ms. Chepkirui Ruto, Executive Director of Let’s Talk About It Initiative, condemned the practice, stating it violates women’s and girls’ rights to health, security, physical integrity, and freedom from inhuman or degrading treatment. She emphasized that FGM perpetuates cycles of inequality and discrimination, with significant social and economic costs on individuals, families, and communities.

Cross-border FGM has also emerged as a new trend among practising communities seeking to evade prosecution, particularly in regions bordering Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda, where prevalence rates are higher than national averages.

Village elder John Kirui underscored the importance of involving men and boys in anti-FGM efforts, explaining that they can be powerful agents of change by challenging harmful gender norms and supporting women’s autonomy. “Men, as fathers and husbands, can protect daughters and ensure their wives are not subjected to harmful practices,” he said.

Similarly, James Yegon, Director of Soar Kenya Foundation, condemned FGM as a violation of human rights with no health benefits. He outlined the physical, psychological, and social consequences of the practice, including trauma, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and social exclusion.

Community Health Promoter Beatrice Chaintoik emphasized that FGM often leads to lifelong psychological issues, school dropouts, child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and the perpetuation of poverty.

Students also voiced their concern. Angela Cherono, a form two student at AIC Girls Elgeyo Marakwet, stressed that ending FGM is crucial for girls’ access to education and empowerment. She highlighted that the practice disrupts schooling due to physical complications and psychological trauma and that integrating human rights and FGM awareness into school curricula can help girls challenge harmful norms.

As part of the outreach program, stakeholders urged communities to embrace education, empower girls, and reject cultural practices that harm women. They called for stricter enforcement of the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act, 2011, and stronger community surveillance mechanisms to protect both girls and married women from coercion.

FGM is internationally recognized as a form of violence against women and a violation of human rights, affecting over 200 million girls and women worldwide, primarily in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Experts warn that if current trends continue, 15 million additional girls aged 15–19 could be at risk by 2030.

The outreach concluded with a strong call for collective action from parents, religious leaders, teachers, men, and policymakers to end FGM and safeguard the rights, health, and dignity of women and girls in Nakuru and beyond.