Student’s Association Calls on the National Government and County Government to Take A stern Action Against those Still Practicing FGM in Embu
A section of university students drawn from Embu County Campus Students Organization (ECCSO) an association of university students who hail from Embu County has called on the National Government and the County Government to take a stern action against Embu residents who are still exposing girls to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
The students said that despite all the measures that have been put in place by the Government to fight FGM, the prevalence of FGM is still high in most parts of Embu County.
The students added that despite the FGM Act 2011 stipulating out the punishments that an individual risk facing if found engaging in the act, many parents still overlooks the said punishments and proceed to expose their daughters to FGM.
Dorcas Kagendo a student from the university of Embu while admitting that there is a law to fight FGM in Kenya, said that the laws are not enforced and followed to the latter.
Kagendo called on the Governments’ leadership to work closely with the National Government to ensure that a motion is introduced in parliament to enhance and amend the FGM Act 2011 so that any girl child is fully protected from the vice.
“At some point we acknowledge that the FGM Act 2011 is there but it has always had loop holes. It is not followed and enforced to the latter. Our County Governments’ leadership should work closely with the National Government to ensure that it is amended and enhanced so that the girl child can be fully protected from the vice,” said Kagendo.
Naomi Kanini a student member of ECCSO called on the National Government to embrace a multi-agency fight against FGM in order to end it not only in Embu County but also in Kenya.
Kanini also called on the County Government of Embu and the National Government to carry out sensitization programmes in remote areas of Embu County in order to educate parents on the dangers of FGM.
She noted that in remote areas of the Embu County, many parents are illiterate and are not well exposed to information as well as the new technology adding thus subjecting their girls to FGM still appeals to them.
Kanini added that FGM causes the victims to have low self esteem and stigmatization which can lead to school drop out for the affected girls.
She called on the National Government to firmly fight for the girl child right of ensuring that the girl child is not subjected to FGM.
“I wish to plead with the Government to protect the girl child and ensure that she is not subjected to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM),” said Kanini.