By Charity Nyaga and Ellyjoy Kanana
On 6th of February every year, the world marks and celebrates the International Day on Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The major reason for this day is to encourage a global call to end the harmful practice and speedup progress towards its eradication.
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) female genital mutilation refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for cultural or other non-medical reasons.
The World Health Organization has identified four types of female genital mutilation which are clitoridectomy, excision, infibulation and other types such as pricking.
The most recent Kenya Demographic Health Survey indicates that the national female genital prevalence rate is 15%. However, some regions in the country have prevalence as high as 95%.
Female genital mutilation is classified as the worst form of violence against women and girls.
This is because it denies them off their very instrumental rights such as the right to quality education, their right to childhood which is not negotiable and their right to safe motherhood in their future lives.
In the majority of African communities including the Ameru Communities who majorly inhibit our County, female genital mutilation continue to persist since it is done as a rite of passage that signifies entry into adulthood.
A girl who undergoes the cut is considered an adult irrespective of her age. Some families claim that their fore fathers left curses behind that their daughters and daughter in laws should be circumcised. Many families continue to practice is for fear of social rejection and stigma.
Patriarchal decision making structures further reinforce compliance, while secrecy driven by the criminalization of fgm by the law pushes the underground practice.
In addition, limited awareness of health risks and legal implications alongside economic incentives for traditional practitioners also contribute to the continued existence of the harmful practice.
In Tharaka Nithi County, working with Fit For Future Kenya and with support from the Global Media Campaigns to End FGM, we are using community driven methods and particularly through mobile awareness caravans.
The caravans move through villages, markets, schools and public spaces using drama, music, storytelling and dialogues to engage the communities in a culturally respect way. They create safe spaces where young people parents, elders and leaders can openly discuss FGM, challenge social norms.
Through caravans, we are able to reach out to underserved and remote populations, attract large and diverse audience whilst encouraging open dialogues around a topic that is often surrounded with taboos and silence.
Through caravans, we have been addressing communities and this has empowered young people become advocates of change. We have built trust with the communities and change is taking place.
As we draw closer to the year 2030, there is a need for collective efforts from families, communities and national and sub national (County) governments to intensify their efforts and campaigns using strategies that are impactful and lead to sustainable social change.
Through the community FGM caravans, we have become staunch and dedicated Anti FGM champions. We have learnt that together we can ensure that our traditions become a source of pride and not pain to girls and women.
Charity Nyaga & Ellyjoy Kanana are Youth Champions at Fit For Future Kenya, an Non-Governmental Organisation that fights FGM
Bernard Munyao