Married men in Molo, Nakuru County have been accused of paying money to have their wives undergo circumcision.
The Ogiek Council of Elders said there is an increased number of married women from the area being forced into Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The elders said that the married men are paying circumcisers up to Sh12,000 and one sheep to have their wives undergo the outlawed practice.
Chairman of the elders’ council Joseph Towett said cases of female circumcision are on the rise on married women and young girls in Nessuit and Mariashoni areas.
Towett said in December alone, there have been 58 cases of women and girls being forced to undergo the cut in Mariashoni while in Nessuit there were 29 cases reported.
“Married women are forced to undergo the cut with their children to end stigmatisation and be accepted in society.”
“This is shocking, yet we have assistant chiefs and chiefs in Nessuit and Mariashoni who are abetting this archaic cultural practice,” said Towett.
Towett claimed that local administration, security personnel and local Nyumba Kumi leaders are aware of such cases and are doing little to end FGM in the area.
The chairman said more public awareness campaigns are needed and action taken against individuals forcing women into circumcision.
Towett further said that affected women and girls need counselling and medical check-ups.
“In this era of HIV/Aids, these women and girls should be taken to hospital for further medical check-ups,” he added.
Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya and Molo Deputy County Commissioner David Wanyonyi denied claims that they are aware of such cases and failed to take action.
Natembeya said he will investigate the matter in the mentioned areas while Wanyonyi on his part said he has not received any reports or complains in his area of jurisdiction regarding the matter.
“I am not aware of forced FGM on married women in Mariashoni and Nessuit areas. Nobody has told me about that. I will check the situation on the ground,” said Natembeya.Men in Molo forcing wives to undergo the cutMen in Molo forcing wives to undergo the cut