A 17-year-old mother of one has died after she was forced to undertake circumcision as a rite of passage in Kaumone village, Meru County.
Purity Kathela was reportedly subjected to female genital mutilation on Sunday and got complications on Wednesday.
She was also suffering from diabetes type 1.
According to anti-FGM activist, Kithela Kubai, Purity was picked from her marital home by her mother Asha Mwathimba before she was subjected to FGM.
Mwathimba has since been arrested for the death of her daughter which stemmed from the circumcision.
“I received a tip-off from neighbours before I engaged the authorities leading to the arrest of the mother. We are now pursuing the circumciser. FGM is a top secret operation that needs more government effort to tame in this area, " said Kubai as quoted by the daily nation
According to Meru County Health Chief Officer Kanana Kimonye, the deceased was suffering from diabetes type 1 which made the situation hard to control.
Kathela lost her life in hospital on Wednesday hours after she was admitted.
“The patient was brought to Muthara hospital unconscious and on the investigation, she was found to have diabetes type 1.
"The diabetes was diagnosed earlier but she had stopped taking medication. Health workers tried to control the sugar but it was not possible because she had a septic wound due to FGM. This is because diabetes complicates wounds and wounds complicate diabetes,” said Dr Kimonye on Friday.