Feb 7th, 2017, 10:35 PM

Kenyan Rebellion

By Caroline Thee
Image credit: Walking Lightly Travel
The story of the fight against female genital mutilation in Kenya.

The school holidays have just ended in Kenya, which means the end of not only the festive holiday celebrations, but also an end to the time of year better known to locals as "cutting season." This is a season unlike any other. This is a season where more than 3 million girls annually are at risk to undergo FGM—female genital mutilation. 

"If a woman does not undergo FGM, she is seen as unclean and outcast from society."

I spent two weeks with community leader, James, in the small town of Kehancha, in the district of Kuria, Kenya during my holiday break this year. Every one of those days during my stay I saw young boys parading down the streets and through the markets in brightly colored hats with matching capes and an occasional walking stick. To me, these were just young boys just having an adventurous day out on the town during their holiday break. I was told they had just been circumcised, which made even more sense to me, because these groups were often large and very festive.

Embarrassingly and naively enough, I never once thought these parades were celebrating anything other than a normal event - young boys being circumcised. However, I was very, very wrong. These children were actually young girls celebrating a huge milestone in their lives. I found myself witnessing the aftermath of female genital mutilation, a tragic even that has recently gained a global spotlight for how crude and inhumane of a practice it is. None of the girls I witnessed happily parading down the streets of Kehancha could have been older than 12 years old.

None of the girls I witnessed had a choice. 

Image Credit: Walking Lightly Travel

The Culture Behind It

Female genital mutilation is thought to be practiced in about 30 countries worldwide, and by those who migrate from those countries. Of course, beliefs as to why it should be performed vary from region to region, but James and his fellow church member Samuel informed me of the beliefs that FGM supporters in Kuria hold to justify the practice:

  1. "FGM​ reduces immorality and harlotry."
  2. "The practice reduces infidelity and prevents HIV and AIDS." 
  3. "It is only after undergoing FGM that a girl is considered to be a woman, to enable her to get married."
  4. "FGM makes girls courageous to face any challenges in life."
  5. "FGM is a sacred sacrifice to their Gods and Spirits."
  6. "If a woman does not undergo FGM, she is seen as unclean and outcast from society." 

Image Credit: Walking Lightly Travel

The Legal Side

FGM has been a topic of discussion for the government of Kenya since the 1990s. In 1999, a "National Plan of Action for the Elimination of Female Circumcision" was proposed to bring stronger commitment from the Kenyan government to try and stop the practice of FGM. This plan of action took a big leap forward by making hospitals unable to continue the practice within their walls. The plan was then followed by the 2001 Children's Act, which took an even bigger step by making FGM illegal for girls under 18 years old, and imposed a short prison sentence or a 50,000 KES fine—roughly $500.00 USD.

Although positive first steps were taken legally, FGM still happened throughout Kenya under these new laws. The short 12-month imprisonment or the semi-lofty fine was hardly enough to scare many from letting go of their tribal and cultural traditions of having their daughters mutilated before they even hit puberty. 

Ten years later, in October 2011, the "Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 2011" was passed. This act is currently still in place and makes FGM illegal for everyone, regardless of age. Under this current law, anyone who performs the act or has any knowledge of the act being performed can be prosecuted. Also under this act, a three-seven-year prison sentence awaits the prosecuted, and even a life sentence if the young girl dies due to the FGM procedure. There is also a higher fine of 200,000 KES—$2,000 USD. 

Image Credit: Walking Lightly Travel

Have the Laws Helped?

Kenya has 42 tribes, among which is the Kuria tribe. For the Kenyan district of Kuria, that the small town of Kehancha calls home, not much has changed. Kuria still has one of the highest rates of FGM in Kenya, but the practice has been driven underground recently due to the new laws, making it even more dangerous than before. 

James says a reason for the high rates of FGM in his town are due to the tribal traditions, and the observance and strictness of the tribal elders. "Tradition Elders, the Wazee Wa Mila, ensure that every Kurian has undergone and complied to the customs and traditions. These Wazee Wa Mila include even government officials and other political leaders. This has made it difficult for the anti-FGM campaigns, and even for the law to be upheld," he says. 

"Most people in Kuria hide in order not to be noticed by the community that they are against FGM."

Despite possessing its own district in Kenya, the Kuria tribe also spreads across the border into Tanzania. James is of the Kuria tribe, and he says that its presence in two countries has caused mass confusion. "Most Kurian people do not know whether they belong to Kenya or Tanzania," he tells me, "Even the government of Kenya has neglected them in terms of development. Consequently, there are a lot of gangs. These threats have made the anti-FGM campaigns withdraw or go underground." 

James and his fellow church member Erick both tell me of the silencing anti-FGM believers face within their community from the Wazee Wa Mila and other similar tribal elders. Erick tells me that the they are "the most feared and respected people of the community."

"The police are trying to help but receive strong confrontation from some government officials, tradition elders and the entire community," James adds, "Most people in Kuria hide in order not to be noticed by the community that they are against FGM." 

Image Credit: Walking Lightly Travel

A Girl's Rebellion

I was welcomed into James' home daily during my stay in Kehancha. There were chickens and their chicks running in circles around the house, leafy banana trees swaying in the warm breeze, a red dirt path forking off to his father's house on the right, and his smiling wife happily welcoming us every day with a glass of mango juice.

There were also kids, lots of kids. James has been saving girls from FGM for almost 10 years now. The word has spread of his kindness, and when the girls come, he treats them as his own. He provides for them, feeds them, educates them—loves them. He has made sure to spread his nurturing ideology into his church, holding days to educate the youth and their parents about the dangers FGM poses to young girls, physically and psychologically. 

"I was forced to go by my grandma, but I refused. I ran away from home."

One church member and teacher, Faith, tells me that she has also escaped from FGM. "Myself, I was forced to go by my grandma, but I refused. I ran away from home for two months staying outside. I really hate it," she says.

Faith tells me some girls are ready and willing for the procedure. This could be because they are promised many gifts and a huge celebration, things which are extremely desirable and rare commodities for young girls in rural Kenya. This could also be because they understand the societal norm to conform, even at such a young age. However, Faith tells me that many girls today are choosing to rebel, running away just like she once did. 

Image Credit: Walking Lightly Travel

The Future of FGM in Kenya

Many organizations, such as UNICEF and WHO, are trying to help eradicate FGM around the world. James and Samuel tell me, though, of how "some girls have been circumcised in police stations [and] the cases vanish in secret." For an area of Kenya with a police force as corrupt as Kuria's, progress will most likely be slow. A police force with such a reputation leaves little left for the people of Kuria who are against FGM—except for the power of education. 

"If I could have the power," Faith tells me, "I would collect all of the girls in danger of FGM and teach them all of the effects of it. It is a very bad act and I am very ready to educate young girls about it." 

"Research shows that, if practicing communities themselves decide to abandon FGM, the practice can be eliminated very rapidly."

The WHO's efforts to eliminate female genital mutilation mainly involve education measures. The WHO states, "research shows that, if practicing communities themselves decide to abandon FGM, the practice can be eliminated very rapidly." The majority of the WHO's response to FGM focuses on education measures, such as generating knowledge about causes, elimination and care, and increasing advocacy through publications. 

A friend and mentor of James, Bishop Jose, has a message for the world: "People outside of Kenya need to know that this vice is still so rampant in our country. It needs to be stopped in order to rescue our girls from early marriages and a lack of education." 

Donate to UNICEF to help save children across the world. 

*All names in this article have been changed for safety purposes.*