An anti-FGM poster. [Photo/ nation.co.ke]
Activists have called upon religious leaders to take charge and discourage the retrogressive cultural practice of FGM that is still rampant among the community living in Tana River County.Sadia Hussein, an anti-FGM activist in Tana River County who has gone through the cut, said she started the campaign in 2008 to protect her daughters from the practice.Hussein said despite the government efforts through State organs to fight FGM, religion plays a key role in anti-FGM campaigns. She pointed an accusing finger at religious leaders for failing to address the issue holistically.She said out of the five major communities in Tana River, four still practice FGM.Hussein said she is still fighting to end FGM among the Wardei, Orma, Warta Wailua and Munyoyaya communities, who still embrace the cultural practice.She cited a success story where with the support of the former district commissioner, they gave out 12 goats to female circumcisers as a motivation to ditch the practice and an alternative source of income.She argued that the women were engaging in FGM to earn money due to the high poverty levels in the region.She, however, noted that the women have now completely abandoned the practice after receiving the goats, adding that the community is beginning to realise the positive gains made in the fight against FGM.