Female Genital Mutilation practices in Kenya: - Feed the Minds

executive summary
4.
the WHO defines Female Genital
Mutilation (FGM) as comprising
‘all procedures involving partial
or total removal of the external
female genitalia or other injury to
the female genital organs for non-medical reasons’.
An estimated 100 –140 million girls and women
currently live with the consequences of FGM, most
of whom live in 28 African countries.
The main reasons for the continuation of FGM
are firstly, as a rite of passage from girlhood to
womanhood; a circumcised woman is considered
mature, obedient and aware of her role in the
family and society. Secondly, FGM is perpetuated
as a means of reducing the sexual desire of girls
and women, thereby curbing sexual activity before,
and ensuring fidelity within, marriage.
Evidence from the Kenya Demographic and Health
Surveys (KDHS) shows that the overall prevalence
of FGM has been decreasing over the last decade.
In 2008/9, 27% of women had undergone FGM,
a decline from 32% in 2003 and 38% in 1998.
Older women are more likely to have undergone
FGM than younger women, further indicating the
prevalence is decreasing. However, the prevalence
has remained highest among the Somali (97%),
Kisii (96%), Kuria (96%) and the Maasai (93%),
relatively low among the Kikuyu, Kamba and
Turkana, and rarely practiced among the Luo and
Luhya (less than 1%).
In Kenya, approaches used, with varying degree
of success, to encourage communities to abandon
FGM include: health risk/harmful practice
approaches; educating and providing alternative
sources of income to circumcisers; alternative rites
of passage; addressing FGM through religion;
legal and human rights; and the promotion of girls’
education and empowerment programmes.
This research was undertaken to better understand
FGM as currently practised by the Kuria and
Kisii communities. The study used a qualitative
approach, involving focus group discussions and
individual interviews to investigate:
•• current attitudes and practices in relation
to FGM among men and women;
•• awareness and attitudes towards the
Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP);
•• factors which encourage individuals to
take decisions to abandon FGM.
The research used qualitative methods, collecting
data through focus group discussions and key
informant interviews.
The findings show that FGM is still a celebrated
public event among the Kuria, dictated by the
decrees from the Council of Elders, which decides
when circumcision should take place. In Kisii, FGM
is a private family affair, usually without public
celebration, often in secret. In both communities,
girls undergoing FGM are given gifts and are
generally considered more suitable for marriage
and more socially acceptable. Uncircumcised girls
and women frequently experience stigmatism,
isolation and ridicule. However, there is evidence
in both Kuria and Kisii that the isolation and stigma
directed towards uncircumcised girls and women
is far greater for uneducated girls than for those
who are educated.
As reported in other research, there has been a
marked trend towards girls undergoing FGM much
younger, with many girls under 10 years of age.
This appears to be in order to circumcise them
before they might refuse and also in response
to the illegality of FGM under The Children Act,
since 2001. The change to using medical staff to
carry out the procedure is particularly evident in
Kisii, although parents in Kuria also expressed a
preference in this direction.