Silverio Omari
Over 80 girls, aged between five and 13 years, from Bogusero Ward in Kitutu Central Subcounty, Kisii County, were honored in a ceremony aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a form of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The event took place at Nyamatuta Primary School in Bigege Sublocation, just as the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV were nearing their conclusion.
The ceremony was attended by the girls’ parents, Fulda Mosocho Project Manager Maranga Makori, who organized the event, and officials from ‘Partners of Change,’ a Germany-based NGO.
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Simon Okeyo, the acting chief of Bogusero location, commended the initiative, noting that it was helping educate the community and encourage them to reject FGM. He shared that the periodic event had contributed to a 20% reduction in FGM in the area.
Okeyo highlighted that the Fulda project had eased the workload for law enforcement, as many community members had voluntarily abandoned the practice without coercion from the government, which he described as a positive development.
Assistant Chief Jonathan Monyando of Bogusero South Sublocation urged the community to stop subjecting children to FGM, emphasizing that the practice was illegal and would not be tolerated by law enforcement. He called on parents to become ambassadors for the anti-FGM cause and encouraged residents to report anyone still practicing FGM to the authorities for appropriate legal action.
Fulda Project Manager Maranga explained that the project, which has been running for 20 years in Mosocho, has expanded into Marani and Kisii South Subcounties, with the goal of protecting girls from FGM by involving the community in the fight against it.
The project adopts a value-centered approach, supported by German partners, where parents undergo six months of training to change attitudes and develop a willingness to reject the harmful practice. Maranga proudly stated that the initiative had protected at least 100,000 girls since its inception.
One of the parents, Tabitha Kerubo, expressed her appreciation for the training, noting that many parents had learned about the dangers of FGM and were now committed to championing the anti-FGM cause.
A board member from Partners of Change, Silk Sewing, called for a global collective effort to end FGM, stressing that small actions from many individuals and organizations would complement government efforts in eradicating the outdated practice.
Dj Vnyash
