•Bukira clan elders alerted police that a circumciser from outside the area was procured and the vice was ongoing at night to avert a police raid.
•Migori county commissioner Meru Mwangi said on December 13 alone five girls were rescued and 11 more on December 14.
Migori county police have arrested three parents for subjecting their daughters to female genital mutilation in Kuria.
The three, a man and a couple were arrested on December 13 at 10:30 pm. at Nyawitanjiria area in Kuria West subcounty after police thwarted an illegal circumcision in their homes.
One of the suspects was arrested for aiding the process of subjecting his daughter aged 14 to the cut while the couple was also arrested for aiding in the subjection of their two daughters aged 13 and 14 to FGM.
"We were doing patrols and were alerted that a circumciser was already procured for the exercise at night, we won't stop until we end this retrogressive cultural practice," Kuria West subcounty police commander Cleti Kimaiyo said.
Bukira clan elders alerted police that a circumciser from outside the area was procured and the vice was ongoing at night to avert a police raid.
The trio are still under police custody at Kehancha police station waiting for arraignment while the minors have been placed in a safe space. The minors would also be taken for a medical checkup.
Currently, more than 116 girls have been rescued as illegal FGM practices continue across Kenya and Tanzania.
About 92 girls have been rescued from December 5 to date in the Ntimaru subcounty alone, which has seen tension between residents and chiefs who are against the cut.
Ntimaru police commander Ali Alihoa confirmed that the rescued girls had been taken to different safe spaces as they intensify intelligence.
Additionally, Kuria West has 24 girls who were rescued between December 8 to date.
"Girls are not circumcised openly and the vice has gone underground and is done at night with circumciser being moved on motorbikes, we have increased surveillance to curb this vice," Alihoa said.
To avert arrests, girls are also dressed as boys.
Migori county commissioner Meru Mwangi said on December 13 alone five girls were rescued and 11 more on December 14.
"Parents who are abetting their children being subjected to FGM must be arrested because we shall not continue talking about the same thing," Mwangi said.
In the Kuria community, FGM is practised by four clans— Nyabasi, Bwirege, Bugumbe and Bukira.