Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has led more than 25 MPs in launching an anti-female Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) campaign in Kisii county.
Speaking at Gesieka in Kitutu Chache North Constituency on Tuesday, Ogamba decried cases of early pregnancies and prevalent cases of female genital mutilation in Kisii. Ogamba hailed the women MPs for launching the anti-FGM campaign.
"You have shown us the way. I want to encourage you to continue what you are doing. This programme is intended to help our people, especially young girls,” said the CS.
“We have a big problem with early pregnancies in the country. In the ongoing KCSE exams, there is a worrying number of numbers who are sitting their exams in maternity rooms after giving birth."
Kisii Woman Representative Dorice Donya Aburi organised the mentorship event on reproductive health, gender-based violence, and femicide.
The event was attended by Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, Kitutu Chache North MP Japheth Nyakundi, and more than 25 women MPs from across the country under the umbrella of the Kenya Women Parliamentarians Association (Kewopa).
Onyonka and Nyakundi also spoke against FGM and appealed to the community to discard the practice.
Kewopa chairperson Leah Sankare said the Maasai community has discarded FGM and wondered why the practice is still prevalent in Kisii and Nyamira counties.
The Kajiado Woman Representative said: “FGM is a retrogressive practice. Let us educate girls.”
Her West Pokot counterpart Rael Kisiwai said: “In West Pokot, FGM is now a thing of the past. As leaders, we should join forces in the war against this retrogressive practice.”
Teso South MP Mary Emase said: “Once the girls are cut, some are married off. This leads to early pregnancies. Men should lead this war against FGM.”
Nominated Senator Essy Okenyuri Nyaituga challenged men to lead the war against FGM and gender-based violence.
“This is a good idea by the Woman Representative. I want to add my voice in being a mentor to the girls who have shown up here,” said Nyaituga.
The MPs called for stiffer penalties against those still subjecting girls to FGM.
