Professionals and elders from the Marakwet community have come out to support a case on legalising FGM.
The case was filed by Dr Tatu Kamau.
The supporters also want the anti-FGM board disbanded because "it has caused a lot of unnecessary suffering in the fight against female genital mutilation".
Former MP Linah Kilimo, the outgoing chairperson of the board, is from Marakwet where she had been leading the war against the practice.
The elders said on Thursday that they would present gifts to Kamau because they believe hers is a just cause.
"We have been hunted and punished for engaging in FGM yet it is our cultural right," mzee Kirior Bitok told The Star.
Professors Luka Kutto and Cosmas Lotikor said they full support the case as it will liberate those who have been punished for engaging in the outlawed practice.
"We have been exposed to unnecessary ridicule and embarrassment as a community because of FGM and our women have been socially frustrated yet it's our right," said Lotikir.
He said no woman had died from the cut and that the government has no constitutional obligation to ban FGM.
"The merits are far better than the demerits."
Lotikir added that FGM promotes discipline in marriages because incidents of divorce among women who are circumcised are minimal.
"Married women who are circumcised do not engage in extra-marital affairs and are highly disciplined."
Regarding the health of women who undergo the cut, Lotikir said few of them suffer complications during delivery.
Many cases of deaths have been reported following FGM and in February, it was reported that counties practising FGM had the highest numbers of maternal deaths related to childbirth.
State Department of Gender Affairs PS Zeinab Hussein
said Northeastern led in FGM at 97 per cent against the country’s 21 per cent rate.
Women who have been circumcised have had to undergo reconstructive surgery, some saying they felt
their sense of womanhood has been stolen from them. They said this
traumatises them mentally and lowers their self-esteem.
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The professionals and the elders said more than 100 of them will travel to the Machakos court for the hearing of the case on February 26.
Professor Kutto said FGM should be optional and those those who opt to go through it should not be harassed and punished.
"The case is a bold step to restore the rights of those who choose to undergo FGM", he said
He noted that it is part of the cultural heritage of many people including members of the Marakwet community.
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