[PHOTOS]: First Lady attends Hellen Nkaissery's launch of bracelet in anti-FGM war

The initiative spearheaded by Nkaissery's Ushanga Kenya Initiative seeks to end FGM.

by The Star

News06 December 2021 - 16:23

In Summary

• During the event, Hellen Nkaisssery said that they have been able to bring women across the country together and informed them of harmful effects of FGM.

• It is also meant to empower pastoralist women by changing their perception on the use of beads.

Joyce Lemapir (L) and Mombasa Lemagogone from Samburu are seen through the Maasai beaded head gear on sale during the official launch of the Johari Beads bracelet.

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta attended the launch of the event at KICC on Monday, December 6, 2021.

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta attended the launch of the Johari Beads bracelet at KICC, Nairobi, on Monday.

The First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and the chairperson of Ushanga Kenya Initiative Hellen Nkaisssery.

She was accompanied by the chairperson of Ushanga Kenya Initiative Hellen Nkaisssery among other leaders.

Johari Beads is a programme of the State Department for Culture and Heritage through Ushanga Kenya Initiative, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Anti-FGM Board and Ecobank to scale up beads trade in support of the government’s efforts to end Female Genital Mutilation by 2022.

Maasai women sell necklaces during the official launch of the Johari Beads bracelet by the First Lady Margaret Kenyatta at the KICC on December 6, 2021.

It is also meant to empower pastoralist women by changing their perception on the use of beads so that they can view them not just as adornment but also as an economic asset to improve lives and as a movement to eradicate FGM.

Rebecca Mutheu tries out a Maasai beaded head gear on sale during the official launch of the Johari Beads bracelet on December 6, 2021.

During the event, Nkaisssery said that they have been able to bring women across the country together and informed them of harmful effects of FGM.

“We have been able to bring women today from all over Kenya to reaffirm them in the preservation of their culture but harmful practices such as FGM must come to an end,” Hellen said.