The anti Female Genital Mutilation board has engaged cultural chiefs and elder in the Maasai community in a bid to end the vice by 2022 a directive by president Uhuru Kenyatta. Speaking at Nkareta in Narok north constituency during the graduation ceremony meant to initiate Maasai morans to respected men in the society, Anti FGM board Chair Agnes Pareiyo expressed that cultural leaders need to be sensitized and engaged in the fight against female circumcision as they play a huge role in the society.
Pareiyo said it is at the cultural manyattas that the maasai communities make decisions regarding their cultural traditions adding that the anti FGM board is calling upon the elders to shun archaic cultural practices such as FGM and early marriages. She expressed that the cultural chiefs have taken the message in a positive manner adding that there is hope that the cultural traditions will be done away with by 2022.
Parieyio stated that the Anti FGM Board has achieved success in the Pokot and Borana communities who have made declarations to end the cultural practice. The chair expressed that the board is engaging the Maasai and Samburu communities to have them also join other communities that have done away with this practice.