Garissa steps up war on FGM and school dropouts

Local administrators, religious leaders, community representatives, elders, women, youth, boda boda riders and human rights actors during the sensitisation in Iftin town /STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Human rights activists in Garissa have partnered with the national government and community leaders to launch a campaign against female genital mutilation.

The initiative also addresses the growing number of school-age children remaining at home.

The campaign, organised by Girlkind, brings together police officers, local administrators, religious leaders, community representatives, elders, women, youth, boda boda riders and human rights actors. Girlkind is a non-governmental organisation involved in advocacy against FGM and the protection of children’s rights.

The stakeholders have been crisscrossing different parts of Garissa County, taking their message directly to residents and families. On Wednesday, the campaign culminated in a meeting in Iftin town.

The initiative marks a deliberate shift from conventional sensitisation approaches, with organisers opting to take the message directly to communities rather than waiting for residents to attend public meetings.

Girlkind programme officer Hamas Abdi said the organisation had resolved to engage residents in their own neighbourhoods.

“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,” she said.

Hamas said Girlkind was working with police, local administrators, religious leaders and community members to sustain the campaign and reach families who 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,” she said.

Hamas said the campaign was intended to ensure communities understood the serious consequences of FGM and the need to protect girls from the practice.

“Our main objective is to ensure 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,” she said.

She said communities needed to work collectively to create an environment where girls could grow up safely and enjoy their rights and dignity.

Activist Asia Hassan said the continued practice of FGM despite its criminalisation in Kenya demonstrated the need for stakeholders to rethink their approach and strengthen 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 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,” she said.

Zeinab urged residents with information about planned or ongoing cases to report them to police or other relevant authorities to enable intervention before a child is subjected to the practice.

The campaign also focused on children of schoolgoing age who remain at home instead of attending classes.

Zeinab said keeping children out of school exposed them to risks including FGM, child marriage, exploitation and other forms of abuse.

“Parents have a responsibility to ensure 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 stressed 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 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 had attained schoolgoing age but were 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 to securing a better future for both children and the wider community.

The involvement of boda boda riders, elders, youth, women, local administrators, and security officers also provided an opportunity for residents to highlight security challenges affecting their day-to-day lives.

Instant Analysis

The campaign reflects a more community-centred approach to tackling FGM, recognising that awareness alone has not ended the practice. Bringing police, elders, religious leaders, women, youth, and boda boda riders together could strengthen reporting and early intervention. The parallel focus on children staying out of school is equally significant, as prolonged absence exposes them to FGM, child marriage, and exploitation, making education an important protection tool. 

Zeinab Hussein, the gender officer at Iftin Police Station, speaking. /STEPHEN ASTARIKOGirlkind Program Officer Hamas Abdi engaging bodaboda riders at their Garissa offices. /STEPHEN ASTARIKOGarissa Acting Deputy County Commissioner Paul Omondi./STEPHEN ASTARIKOIftin East location Chief Dekow Ahmed speaking. /STEPHEN ASTARIKOAsia Hassan, an activist engaging residents of Iftin during the awareness campaign. /STEPHEN ASTARIKOBodaboda riders participating in the awareness campaign against FGM and school dropout. /STEPHEN ASTARIKOSheikh Abdullahi Rashid speaking at Iftin. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO