Local administrators, religious leaders, community representatives, elders, women, youth, boda boda riders and human rights actors during the sensitization in Iftin town./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Garissa activists, government join forces in fresh campaign against FGM, school dropout
Human rights activists in Garissa have teamed up with the national government and community stakeholders to launch a sustained grassroots campaign aimed at combating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and addressing the growing number of children of school-going age remaining at home.
The campaign, organized by Girlkind, a non-governmental organization involved in advocacy against FGM and the protection of children's rights, brings together police officers, local administrators, religious leaders, community representatives, elders, women, youth, boda boda riders and human rights actors.
The stakeholders have been crisscrossing different parts of Garissa County, taking their message directly to residents and families.
On Wednesday, their meeting culminated at Iftin town.
The campaign marks a deliberate shift from conventional sensitization approaches.
Girlkind Program Officer Hamas Abdi said the organization had resolved to take the campaign directly to communities and engage residents in their own neighborhoods.
“We have therefore agreed to change our strategy and take the message directly to the people. Rather than waiting for people to come to meetings, we have decided to go to them,” Hamas said.
She said the organization was working with the police, local administrators, religious leaders and community members to sustain the campaign and reach families that may otherwise remain outside conventional public forums.
“That is why we are moving along the roads, visiting villages and reaching out directly to families and community members so that our message can reach as many people as possible,” he said.
Hamas said the campaign was intended to ensure communities understood the serious consequences associated with FGM and the need to protect girls from the practice.
“Our main objective is to ensure that the message about the dangers and consequences of FGM gets home. FGM is not only a violation of the rights of girls and women, but it also exposes them to serious physical, psychological and social consequences,” he said.
She added that communities needed to work collectively to create an environment where girls could grow up safely and enjoy their rights and dignity.
Asia Hassan, an activist said the continued practice of FGM, despite its criminalisation in Kenya, demonstrated the need for stakeholders to rethink their approach and strengthen both awareness and enforcement.
“FGM is criminalised in Kenya, yet the practice continues and is now being done more discreetly. This means we must move beyond awareness and strengthen enforcement so that those who violate the law face the consequences,” she said.
Asia called for a united community response, warning against placing the responsibility of fighting FGM solely on the government or civil society organisations.
“All stakeholders must speak with one voice. We cannot leave the responsibility of fighting FGM to the government or civil society alone. Parents, guardians, elders, health workers and the entire community have a role to play in protecting our girls,” she said.
Zeinab Hussein, the gender officer at Iftin Police Station, said FGM remained a serious violation of the rights of girls and women and warned that anyone involved in the practice would face legal action.
“Female Genital Mutilation is a harmful practice that has no place in our society, and I want to make it clear that the government has criminalised the practice. Anyone found facilitating, encouraging, performing or knowingly allowing FGM to take place will face the full force of the law,” Zeinab said.
She said the police would continue working with parents, community leaders, religious leaders, local administrators and other stakeholders to protect children from harmful practices.
She urged residents with information about planned or ongoing cases to report them to the police or other relevant authorities to enable intervention before a child is subjected to the practice.
The campaign also put the spotlight on the increasing number of children of school-going age who remain at home instead of attending school.
Zeinab said keeping children out of school exposed them to a range of risks, including FGM, child marriage, exploitation and other forms of abuse.
“Parents have a responsibility to ensure that their children attend school and remain in school. We cannot allow our children to be denied their right to education because of harmful cultural practices, poverty, neglect or any other reason,” she said.
“Every child deserves an opportunity to go to school, acquire knowledge and skills, and build a better future,” she said.
She stressed that the campaign was not solely about law enforcement but about working with communities to change attitudes and protect children.
“This campaign is therefore not about policing alone, it is about working together with the community to change attitudes, protect our children and build a safer and more educated society,” she said.
Iftin East location Chief Dekow Ahmed warned parents who deliberately keep their children out of school that they could face arrest and legal action.
He said the government would soon undertake a mop-up exercise to identify children who have attained school-going age but are not attending classes.
“Every child who has attained the age of going to school must be in school. We are going to embark on a mop-up exercise to identify children who are staying at home instead of attending school. Parents who will be found deliberately keeping their children out of school will be arrested and dealt with according to the law,” Dekow said.
The administrator urged parents and guardians to take full responsibility for their children's education, saying schooling remained critical in securing a better future for both children and the wider community.
The inclusion of boda boda riders, elders, youth, women, local administrators and security officers provided an opportunity for communities to highlight security challenges affecting their day-to-day lives.
Ends…..
Zeinab Hussein, the gender officer at Iftin Police Station, speaking. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Girlkind Program Officer Hamas Abdi engaging bodaboda riders at their Garissa offices. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Garissa Acting Deputy County Commissioner Paul Omondi./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Iftin East location Chief Dekow Ahmed speaking. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Asia Hassan, an activist engaging residents of Iftin during the awareness campaign. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Bodaboda riders participating in the awareness campaign against FGM and school dropout. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Sheikh Abdullahi Rashid speaking at Iftin. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
