Cases of female genital mutilation in West Pokot county have risen to 79 per cent from 75 per cent last year,
despite the government partnering with NGOs to protect girls.
Anti-FGM ambassador Domtilah Chesang attributed the increase in the cut to the long holiday.
“Girls have been at home for more than two months and this has exposed many of them to the risk of being subjected to the cut,” she said.
Chesang said many boys in the county have been circumcised during this holiday and this has prompted many girls to undergo the cut.
“In areas where illiteracy levels are high many girls have been subject to the cut since their parents are targeting suitors from boys who have been circumcised,” she said.
Chesang spoke at Sina during the alternative rite of passage for more than 160 girls.
She said FGM is still being practiced in the region because of ignorance and lack of information on its adverse effects.
Evelyne Pkech, a nurse from Sigor Health Centre, said the facility had received many cases of FGM during this holiday.
“Last week I received a 13-year-old girl at the facility. She had bled excessively and she was suffering from anaemia after being subjected to the cut. I was forced to refer her for further treatment at Kapenguria Subcounty Hospital,” she said.