Two women arrested after secret circumcision of teenage girls

Some of the crude tools used by traditional circumcisers to circumcise girls. A mother of and a circumciser from Narok County have been arrested after they allegedly facilitated a secret circumcision of teenage girls at Morijo village in Loita Division over the weekend. This comes barely a week after a 12-year old girl was admitted to the Transmara District Hospital after a botched circumcision attempt that left her unconscious after bleeding profusely. PHOTO/FILE 

In Summary

• The suspected circumciser and one of the girls’ mothers allegedly committed the offense at Morijo village in Loita Division over the weekend.
• This comes at a time when a 12 year -old girl is recuperating at Trans Mara District Hospital where she was admitted following a botched circumcision attempt.
• Kimintet Ward Member of County Assembly Kuyo Ole Kijabe maintained that FGM was a retrogressive cultural practice
• In November, some Maasai leaders issued a stern warning to the residents still practicing female circumcision and early marriages that they would face dire consequences if caught.

By GEORGE SAYAGIE
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Police in Narok have arrested two women allegedly involved in the secret circumcision of teenage girls.

The girls finished their primary school education in 2012.

The suspected circumciser and one of the girls’ mothers allegedly committed the offense at Morijo village in Loita Division over the weekend.

Narok police Chief Peterson Maelo said the suspects will be charged in court soon.

He asked residents to volunteer information that could lead to emergence more victims and the arrest of those perpetrating the illegal act on hapless children.

He said some families within the Maasai community still engaged in the outlawed practice despite an on-going sensitisation campaign against it by elected and community leaders who describe it as outdated and intolerable.

 

In November, some Maasai leaders issued a stern warning to the residents still practicing female circumcision and early marriages that they would face dire consequences if caught

They said the practices were to blame for falling education standards among the Maasai people.

Kimintet Ward Member of County Assembly Kuyo Ole Kijabe maintained that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) was a retrogressive cultural practice that hindered development in the area and vowed to use all means to eliminate the practice.

“Our girls deserve a decent life and education like any other girls from the rest of the country.

We should help them realise their full potential by taking them to school and protecting them from harmful cultural practices,” said Kijabe.

BOTCHED CIRCUMCISION

This comes as a 12 year -old girl is recuperating at Trans Mara District Hospital where she was admitted following a botched circumcision attempt.

The girl alongside her two elder siblings aged 14 were rescued during a raid carried out by the police at Oldanyati area of Keyian division on Sunday.

The standard five pupil at Ntuka Primary School was found unconscious and had profusely bled at their homestead prompting the security officers to rush her to the hospital.

Medics later revealed to the security officials that the girl had been badly cut.

The officers who had been tipped by a member of the public raided the homestead and found that the circumcision exercise had already been carried out.

During the raid, the mothers of the girls, who are co-wives were arrested and are being held at Kilgoris police cells waiting to be arraigned in court.

Trans Mara police boss, Alfred Muthua said the circumciser fled during the raid and that security personnel have launched a manhunt aimed at arresting the woman who is well known in the area