• Former President Uhuru Kenyatta had pledged to end FGM by 2022.
• So far, 51, 375 girls have been saved from the harmful cultural practice.
The United Nations Population Fund’s Annual report on Female Genital Mutilation shows that Kenya is on the right path toward ending the cultural practice.
According to the report, in partnership with UNICEF, Kenya has an enabling environment for eliminating FGM.
“There is legislation criminalising FGM, costed national action plan, a National budget line for FGM and a National coordination mechanism,” they said.
Under the new constitution, the Anti-FGM Board was formed, stipulated by the Prohibition of FGM Act of 2011.
This, UNFPA said, helped to intensify the fight against FGM which was being countered strongly by communities who have practiced the act for years.
Further, at the Generation Equality Forum in 2021, former President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta, made 12 commitments to end all forms of GBV by 2026 and FGM by 2022.
“In 2021, Kenya played a critical role in implementing a regional cross-border plan of action agreed in 2019 by neighbouring countries of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and Tanzania,” they added.
The report said 51,375 girls have so far been saved from FGM.
“Since 2018, there have been 303 arrests of FGM perpetrators, 300 cases brought to court and 55 convictions and sanctions made,” it read.
Not yet uhuru
UNFPA said that three out of four girls experience FGM before the age of 14 years.
“21 per cent of girls and women aged 15 to 49 have undergone FGM, 11 per cent of girls and women aged 15 to 19 have undergone FGM and 98 per cent of girls and women think FGM should stop,” they said.
They said community commitment to end FGM will help to reduce the practice significantly.
“In 2021, the Samburu, Pokot and Abakuria communities made public declarations to abandon FGM, with 257,356 persons (154,323 female, 103,033 male) directly or indirectly participating through local vernacular radio stations,” they said.
Compared to 2020, the proportion of communities that made public declarations on FGM abandonment increased by 10 per cent.
“We registered a six per cent increase in religious leaders publicly making a statement to end FGM and a 23 per cent increase in community leaders doing so in 2021,” they said.
They also advised on engaging more men and boys as over 52 men’s and boys’ networks actively participated in advocating the elimination of FGM with a total membership of 43,297.
“FGM service providers also need more strengthening, especially FGM health services providers, social and legal service providers,” they added.