Anti-FGM CEO Bernadette Loloju speaking to the press on Friday. She said North Eastern is leading in Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). [Photo/Kenyanewsagency.go.ke]
North Eastern is said to be the leading region countrywide in terms of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Anti-FGM CEO Bernadette Loloju said communities in the region are still leading in the perpetuation of the outlawed practice.
Addressing the press on Friday, Ms. Loloju called upon the practicing communities to stop the outlawed practice since it has great impacts on women.
She said most communities are carrying out the practice under the cover of darkness at night to avoid being detected by security officers and anti-FGM crusaders.
“According to a recent Kenya Democratic Health Survey, the Borana community in North Eastern leads in FGM at 97 percent,” she said.
Ms. Loloju, however, said that the number of girls undergoing FGM in the country was on the decline thanks to increased awareness of ills of the practice.
The CEO said the anti-FGM board is leading in the fight against the practice adding that the county governments, other partners, and stakeholders are also committed to fighting and ending the exercise.
She said there is need to educate both the boy and the girl child on the negative effects of FGM which had adverse effects in women mainly during birth.
“Efforts made so far in the war against the practice has seen the national prevalence rates drop from 27 percent in 2008 to the current 21 percent.”
“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,” said Ms. Loloju.
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