All government agencies have been urged to support the war against Female Genital Mutilation to ensure the practice is done away with in Kenya. Speaking in Karen, Deputy President William Ruto has reiterated that the government will explore all opportunities and work with all partners and agencies to prosecute the movement against FGM and early childhood marriages.
He was speaking after meeting leaders who are against the vice and other government partners including UNFPA and Ecobank at his office on Thursday. He outlined that in Kenya 23% of women undergo FGM, “We must assemble every arsenal to fight FGM in our country,” he said. He pointed out that FGM and early childhood marriages undermine the health and education and socio-economic development of girls and women, “FGM, simply put, is violence against women and we must stop it by all means.”
The End FGM Beads programme that has brought together different partners is aimed at ensuring women from pastoralist communities find a living through profitable practices and not the retrogressive practices like FGM and early marriages.
The DP also revealed that later this year, President Uhuru Kenyatta will represent Kenya in co-hosting a big campaign on gender equality with Denmark, UNFPA and other partners, and initiatives like the anti-FGM initiative will be highlighted.