By MN Reporter
Stakeholders championing the fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) have called on President William Ruto to continue with the quest to end the retrogressive cultural practice.
The calls come amidst fear that the current government may not propell the course left by former President Uhuru Kenyatta who directed that the vice be eradicated by 2022.
Already, there are talks of planned cross border cuts during the December festivities with crusaders heightening surveillance to curb the Vice.
Speaking during a cross border sensitization program organized at a Tanzanian Hotel, the stakeholders noted that failure by the current government to stem the fight would curtail the progress made in scaling down the vice.
The meeting brought together anti-FGM crusaders both from Kenya and Tanzania to brainstorm on a way forward ahead of the anticipated cut in December.
“The president (Ruto) should make a decree in line with his predecessor move to ensure FGM is totally done away with. The progress we have made so far in scaling down the practice should not be wished away,” noted Mr John Omondi, The Kuria West Sub County children’s officer.
According to Mr Omondi, the government should bolster the gains made in eradicating the vice in communities where the vice is practiced and ensure a conducive learning environment for girls
The sentiments come even as The Kenya Anti-FGM Board exuded confidence the government was not keen to disrupt the current interventions.
Through their programs officer Mr Nyerere Kutwa, the board maintains that the directive to end the outdated cultural practice by the end of 2022 was from the office of the president and not from the bearer dismissing an illusion that the fight against the vice ended with the former president Kenyatta.
“President Ruto recognizes the need to save the girls from the cut and has promised to increase allocations where need be. That is an indication that the anti FGM fight did not go with the former president. We are upbeat that he will follow his predecessor’s footsteps and ensure we move in the right track,” Mr Kutwa said.
During the two-day sessions, the delegation bordered on issues aimed at ensuring cross border cut are addressed and school going girls are rescued from the practice.
Plans and preparations to save girls from facing the knife were outlined where each official relayed milestones toward achieving zero FGM cases.
