A signage championing anti FGM fight.PHOTO:HANDOUT
Gender rights activists in Migori County have raised alarm over a surge in Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) cases in Kuria East Sub-county following the onset of the December circumcision season, with at least 200 girls rescued and five suspects arrested so far.
According to activists working on the ground, the practice has intensified within the Bwirege clan, which spans Kuria East and parts of Tanzania’s Mara Province. While the rite of passage is legally permitted only for boys, girls are reportedly being forcibly subjected to the harmful practice.
Speaking to journalists, Vincent Mwita, an activist with Tunaweza Empowerment Program, said the situation remains volatile despite ongoing interventions.
“In Kuria, only the Bwirege clan has started circumcision. The Nyabasi, Bugumbe and Bukira clans have not yet undertaken the rite, but the risk to girls remains high. We are intensifying monitoring efforts to ensure girls are protected and perpetrators brought to justice,” Mwita said.
Mwita revealed that a multi-agency team comprising elders, police officers and public administrators has been mobilized to respond to reported cases. The team has already arrested five suspects, with several other cases under active investigation.
“Those arrested will face the full force of the law. Our priority is to rescue as many girls as possible before they are cut,” he added.
To support the rescue mission, two temporary rescue centres have been established. The Komotobo rescue centre is currently hosting approximately 150 girls, while a newly established centre at Nyabikongori is sheltering about 20 girls.
Another gender activist, Suzanne Matinde, cited major operational challenges, including the porous Kenya–Tanzania border and the use of boda boda riders to secretly transport girls and circumcisers in order to evade law enforcement.
“FGM perpetrators are exploiting the porous border and private transport to avoid police. However, we have strengthened cross-border coordination and engaged boda boda riders to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements,” Matinde said.
Activists are now calling on the government to implement long-term and sustainable solutions to eliminate FGM, noting that the practice continues to thrive despite existing laws.
This call comes against the backdrop of a newly released National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) report, which paints a grim picture of the state of girls’ rights in Kenya. The report indicates that 15 per cent of school-going girls in Kenya have undergone FGM, while 23 per cent are married before the age of 18.
Additionally, the report reveals that 65 per cent of girls and women have experienced sexual harassment in public spaces, while 64 per cent have faced harassment online and on social media.
Activists warn that without sustained government commitment, community engagement, and cross-border collaboration, the fight against FGM—particularly in high-prevalence areas such as Kuria East—will remain an uphill task.
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