The Anti-FGM Board has denied claims by a 30-year-old woman who said her husband forcefully circumcised her.
According to the board, there is no medical evidence to prove that the lady from Muranga forcefully underwent Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) at the hands of her husband and his friends.
In a statement on Wednesday, Agnes Pareyio, the board's chairperson stated that claims by the 38-year-old lady from Kandara have not been ratified.
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Pareiyo said that from the medical report, the lady was assaulted and it’s not clear if the husband with his friends wanted to circumcise her.
She argued that the board together with security officers are still conducting thorough investigations to ascertain the truth of the incident which occurred about a month ago.
The lady who is still recuperating in hospital made a report to the police station claiming that her husband together with 10 people circumcised her.
She said that her husband is a follower of a cult dubbed Gwata Ndai, which is advocating and perpetuating FGM.
The chairperson however raised alarm over increased FGM cases in central part of Kenya warning those who are behind the retrogressive behaviors.
She said they are investigating several cases saying as a board they will embark on a programme to educate people on negative effects of FGM.
“FGM preference among the Kikuyu community is at 26 percent. It’s a worrying trend considering people from central region are educated and well conversant with impacts associated with FGM,” Pareyio said while at the office of Murang’a county commissioner.
She observed that intensive sanitization programme need to be rolled out targeting to education young people on dangers associated with FGM.
“FGM is quite high in 22 counties. Murang’a is not one of them but we are investigating to know the reality and apprehend those who want to bring back the behaviors among the community,” added the Chairperson.
Among the communities which are leading in conducting FGM, Pareyio said include Kisii, Maasai, Samburu and Somali.
Speaking during the same occasion Murang’a county commissioner Fredrick Ndunga stated that the lady claiming to have been forced to FGM was assaulted.
Ndunga said from the report they gathered, the wife and her husband have been having wrangles in their marriage for many years.
“Two medical assessments were done and none proved the lady from Kandara underwent FGM. We are still investigating deeper to know the truth of the matter and what transpired,” he added.
The commissioner asked local residents to provide security officers with factual information and avoid peddling rumors especially on sensitive issues.
“We are also investigating about cults which are said to be behind FGM and soon we will get the truth of the matter. No one will be spared if found perpetuating the behaviors,” the commissioner said.
