Government warns of tough penalties for FGM perpetrators

Those found subjecting girls to the outlawed Female Genital Mutilation practice will face an imprisonment term of up to three years or a fine of Sh200,000.

Winfred Kagwiria, an official from State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action, said the government has strengthened enforcement measures to eliminate the illegal practice and protect girls from grievous harm.

Speaking at Muutine Grounds in Igembe Central subcounty during celebrations to mark this year’s International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, Kagwiria revealed that two parents are currently being held at Maua Police Station after allegedly circumcising their daughters aged 15 and 16 respectively. She said the suspects were expected to be arraigned and charged in court.

Kagwiria strongly condemned FGM, describing it as an awful and uncivilised practice that violates the rights, health and dignity of girls.

Kagwiria urged parents to take full responsibility in protecting their daughters from the harmful cultural rite.

“Parents must protect their girls against this menace. Those who will be caught engaging in FGM will be apprehended and charged according to the law,” she warned.

Kagwiria noted that FGM has contributed to increased school dropouts due to early pregnancies and child marriages, citing cases from the 2025 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment for Grade 6 learners, where 17 candidates from the Igembe region reportedly sat their examinations while in maternity wards.

“It is very painful that a Grade 6 girl can become pregnant, or worse still get married at a tender age of 11 or 12 years. Parents must be extra cautious and guide their adolescent girls to avoid risks that end up destroying their entire lives,” she said.

The official added that modern-day girls face higher health risks from FGM compared to past generations, including severe bleeding and complications.

“In our grandmothers’ era, they ate healthier foods, but today we are losing girls due to heavy bleeding during circumcision. It is heartbreaking for any parent to lose a daughter through such a harmful practice,” she noted.

Kagwiria emphasised that the government is on the front line in ensuring FGM is completely eliminated in the area, stressing that girls deserve education and protection instead of being subjected to harmful traditions.

“Our girls need education, not a knife that will destroy their future,” she said.

Kagwiria also advised that boys should only undergo circumcision after completing Grade 9 to ensure proper maturity, while discouraging the practice at lower class levels.