Anti-FGM CEO Bernadette Loloju during a past event. She identified Borana and Kisii communities as leading in practising FGM. [Photo/KNA]Communities in the formally North Eastern province are still leading in the practice of outlawed Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).The vice still remains prevalent among the Borana community, according to the Anti-FGM, CEO Bernadette Loloju.She said following the Borana closely, it is the Kisii community in Nyanza region which is also ranked highly for embracing the outdated practice.The statistics were obtained from a recent data by Kenya Democratic Health Survey.Speaking during a press conference in Machakos on Thursday, Loloju cited conspiracy among communities still undertaking the practice as the major challenge in the fight against the vice."The perpetrators are carrying out the practice under the cover of darkness at night to avoid being detected by security and anti-FGM crusaders for fear of being prosecuted," she said.However, Loloju observed the national prevalence rates on the practice had dropped from 27 percent in 2008 to 21 percent in 2018, attributing the gains to the efforts made by the anti-FGM board which she said was working very closely with other partners and stakeholders."Kenya is making very good strides in the campaign and with the introduction of the provision of the Anti-Female Genital Mutilation Act we are seeing very positive changes coming," she said.The official said the board was now focusing on holding grassroots meetings with the communities still undertaking the practice to educate them on dangers of the practice and ensure FGM becomes a thing of the past by 2030."We will involve the elders, religious leaders and the local administrators who will be giving tips on alternative forms of rite of passage for the girl child," Loloju added.Is there a newsworthy accident, incident or event happening in Garissa that you want Hivisasa to cover? Tell us what is happening by joining this group and have it published.

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