Four women will spend their weekend in police cells after they were arrested for propagating, aiding, or abetting Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Kanyarkwat area, West Pokot County.

The four— two women aged between 20-27 years and two parents named Nguria Komol and Cheparchok Komol—were arrested at Nasanai Village on Friday, October 3 evening.

The two women were first taken to Kanyarkwat Health Centre where doctors confirmed that they had indeed undergone FGM, before they were taken into custody at Kanyarkway Police Station.

Kanyarkwat Sub-Location Assistant Chief Abraham Plimo, confirming the incident, said that the women were arrested at their homes, expressing fears that many planned FGM ceremonies will be conducted in the region during November and December holidays.

According to Kanyarkwat Police Station Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Isaiah Irungu, it appears that the two women voluntarily underwent the cut two weeks ago.

“We suspect the mother of the girls is the one who cut them. The area has been reporting rampant cases of FGM and we have increased patrols to ensure no more girls undergo the cut,” Irungu said, adding that police are facing challenges rescuing more girls because of the hilly terrain of the place, which hinders access to some remote villages.

West Pokot Sub-County Police Commandant Patrick Nyaanga said the victims will be arraigned at the Kapenguria Law Courts on Monday, October 6.

Anti-FGM crusaders

Anti-FGM activists have condemned the incident citing that cases are becoming rampant as they urged all stakeholders to sensitize the community against the not only outlawed, but also retrogressive practice.

Domtilla Chesang, an anti FGM ambassador from Irep Foundation, asked the county government to set up a rescue center in the region since the county has none.

She said many FGM cases have been happening lately but go unreported.

“We were informed about several girls cut in Sopukwo, Ortum one month ago. The girls I rescued have been forced to stay with them in my house since I don’t have anywhere to take them,” she lamented.

“Schools are still on but FGM cases are being reported. Celebrations will be all over because people have harvested and this will lead to many girls undergoing the cut. We have been informed by chiefs, community mobilizers and other members of the public. We need serious campaigns,” she said.

She said the practice has adversely affected girls’ education as most of them drop out of school after undergoing the cut.

“This is a primitive culture that must be stopped to protect our girls. There is a need for affirmative action to curb such cases.”

Emily Partany, a social worker, urged parents to collaborate and report such incidents when they occur to help ensure rights of girl children are protected.

Partany asked women leaders in the county to join efforts and help fight the vice in the community since it hinders development.

“This is an outdated cultural practice and doesn’t help us anymore. These vices are lagging us behind. This is bad to continue oppressing our girls and women. We need to empower them,” she said. “Anti FGM law was enacted and we need to respect it, those supporting the vice should be arrested and prosecuted.”

In the recent past, West Pokot had recorded a drop in cases of FGM and early forced marriages, but it has been discovered that most parents still perform the cut secretly to evade the force of law.

Partany reiterated that that the main reason for the upsurge of the cases is that many girls in the villages are idle, people are confused and the hard economic times has turned peoples life upside down making them to rely on FGM as a source of income.

What the law says about FGM

In Kenya, the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act was passed in 2011. This law calls for a complete ban on girl circumcision.

The Act, which came into force in October 2011, provides the legal framework for prohibiting and prosecuting FGM.

Penalties for contravening the act including imprisonment and life imprisonment if death results from the offense. 

The law is also clear that “neither cultural, religious, nor traditional customs can justify performing FGM, and consent from the victim is not a valid defense.”