A survivor, a Masai elder and an expert will testify in a case seeking the legalisation of female genital mutilation.
In the case, medical doctor Tatu Kamau argues that all females, especially adults, should be allowed to make choices regarding their bodies without being restricted by legislation.
Kamau wants the Anti-FGM board, which has been spearheading the campaign against the practice, abolished.
A three-judge bench comprising justices Lydia Achode, George Kimondo and Margaret Muigai is handling the matter.
Kamau, who is not represented by a lawyer, says the term FGM is a “misnomer” as Westerners who coined it are now practising it, but refer to it as “female genital surgery”.
“It is a label given to us by those who do not understand it,” she said of the practice and its legal name.
Kamau told the bench that that female circumcision was part of African cultural practices before the advent of colonialism and should not be criminalised.
Kamau told the judges that she will testify in her own case and also play a video clip to try and convince them to agree with her.
Also supporting her case is a former police officer John arap Koech who appeared in court donning Nandi traditional regalia complete with ostrich feathers.
He indicated that he will also testify and explain to the court why the FGM practice should be allowed to continue.
“Your honour hii FGM tutafanya kwa makini tujue ubaya ni nini (We will practice FGM and get to know what is bad about it)," said the old man who is also representing himself as an interested party in the case.
Human rights groups have opposed the case.
For example, the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) have warned that the removal of criminal sanctions on perpetrators of FGM will erase the gains made in sensitising the public against the practice.
Fida had also said that legalising FGM will see more women compelled to undergo the cut to fit into societies.
The case will come up for mention on July 30 for the court to confirm if the parties have filed and exchanged all documents.
(Edited by O. Owino)
