Garissa County Commissioner James Kianda has sent a stern warning to local chiefs and their fellow assistants that they will be held accountable for abetting any case of female genital mutilation in their areas of jurisdiction.
“Chiefs are aware that out Kenyan laws prohibits FGM. These same laws also protect them when implementing the FGM Act. From now henceforth we want to see them make arrests of those found to be practising the vice,” Kianda stated.
He further said that it is only the community leaders who are better placed in reporting and sensitizing their communities on the dangers of FGM.
At the moment, statistics reveal that 96 percent of the local Garissa population still practise FGM.
Kianda said the trend was alarming, and that an urgent intervention has to be made.
"This largely worries the government and other concerned players, and hence an urgent need for sustained campaigns against FGM across this county," the administrator issued.
He also urged security agents in the county to be alert noting that those still practising FGM are doing it secretly because they are aware the law will catch up with them.