Pokot anti – FGM crusaders want law translated for understanding
Non-governmental organizations fighting against female genital mutilation in West Pokot County have asked both national and county government to translate Anti – FGM law in vernacular.
Led by Kepsteno Rotwoo Tipin coordinator Moses Lokeris they said the law should be translated to local dialect for residents to understand the act.
“Illiteracy levels in this county are high and most residents don’t know that FGM is illegal. Most parents cannot access information and that’s why they are violating the Act. The law should be translated for residents to clearly understand the Act,” he said.
“Ignorance is not defense and we need to educate our people so that they do not say we never knew it was prohibited,” said the coordinator.
Last month a parent from Mwino in Pokot Central Sub County was jailed for three years after she subjected her daughter to the vice.
“The parent pleaded not guilty since she was not aware that the act was prohibited by the constitution,” he said.
Lokeris said elected leaders who are supposed to be educating residents on the law don’t discuss it in public forums since they fear they may lose the votes.
“The law should be translated for residents to read by themselves and clearly understand the law to avoid such misconceptions,” he said.
He said during this years’ December holiday’s parents who still practice the vice have changed tactics and are cutting girls at night without the knowledge of the public.
He asked chiefs and village elders to be observant to save girl child from such torture and support her to further her education.
The coordinator also asked parent to report to local authority when girls run and subject themselves to the cut to avoid being jailed on mistakes committed by their own children.
Grace Renyei who is a member of the community based organization said many girls in the region had abandoned the culture after they were taught on dangers of FGM.
“Many girls who we have trained and graduated in alternative rite of passage have helped us in educating other back in the village on the effects of the out dated cultural practice,” she said.
The leaders were speaking Wednesday at Ortum Girl’s Primary School during an alternative rite of passage for over seventy girls from Pokot South Sub County.
