North Eastern is said to be the leading region countrywide in terms of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
This is according to Principal Secretary for Gender Affairs Zeinab Hussein, who says that North Eastern region leads in FGM at 97 percent against country's average of 21 percent.
"North Eastern region is the leading when it comes to FGM. Currently, it stands at 97 percent against 21 percent country's average," said Zeinab.
Zeinab, who was speaking in Sankuri Primary School on Monday during the International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM in Garissa County further called upon the practicing communities, especially the Somalis, to stop the practice since it has great impacts to women.
"Its only women who have undergone the cut who understand and know the complications they go through during child birth. This is a culture that we should say no to and save our women from imminent deaths," said Zeinab.
Former Nominated MP and anti- FGM activist Sofia Abdi says that passing anti-FGM Bill was not an easy work as she had been subjected to resistance, especially from the male counterparts in regions that FGM is highly practiced.
"It was not easy coming up with the Bill as some male colleagues told me on the face that they cannot legislate culture. It took a lot of convincing to pass the Bill after pleading with them," said Sofia.
Sofia urged the government to set aside more money for the anti-FGM Board so that they continue carrying out more campaigns in the fight against FGM, especially in the rural areas, where the practice is very high.
"I would like to urge the government to allocate more money for the anti-FGM Board to enable it carry out rigorous and sustained campaigns at the grassroots," added Sofia.