A razor blade in the hands of a Kenyan woman

Is FGM still a cause for concern in Kuria, Migori County in Kenya?

by Bosibori Osusu • 20 April 2023

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has always been a topic of interest for me personally. Having come from a community that actively conducts female genital mutilation; I will gratefully say that I escaped one of the cruelest acts of all time, in my opinion that is. My parents were kind enough not to force or even suggest the possibility of me undergoing the cut. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a non-medical practice that intentionally removes female genital parts. Over 200 million women have undergone FGM all over the world and 3 million more are at risk every year. There are four types of FGM namely; Clitoridectomy, Excision, Infibulation and all other harmful procedures not mentioned by the other three.

Clitoridectomy is the removal of the clitoris. It is the highly practiced type of FGM. It covers 90% of all the cuts conducted. Excision is the removal of both the clitoris and the labia minora. Infibulation is the narrowing of the vaginal opening by stitching. Only a very small opening is left for menstruation and urinating. The fourth includes all the other harmful procedures not mentioned in the other three types of FGM, which are; pricking, stretching, scraping, and pouring of acid to the vaginal area for mutilation.

In Kenya, specifically Kuria sub-county in Migori County, 4 out of 5 women have been directly affected by FGM. Migori County has one of the highest prevalence rates of FGM in the country. In 2020 alone, more than 3000 girls underwent the cut. In the course of my research and quest to find a person who would give me first hand details on FGM, someone who had actually undergone the cut, I met Eliza. Eliza (not her real name), a mother to a little girl, was born and raised in Gwikonge village, Kuria sub-county in Migori County. At the tender age of 12, she underwent female genital mutilation. “I did it because it is our culture and tradition,” those were her first words. She said it was an event organized by her parents. Cows were slaughtered, chapatis were made and clothes were bought for her. Friends and relatives were invited and so were previously circumcised girls. Basically, it was a big celebration.

According to Eliza, during the mass cutting season, which normally occurs around November and December, pastors would lock their daughters in churches to protect them from the mass circumcision ceremony. Some of the girls would however sneak out just to witness the huge celebrations. Although they were not physically forced or held down for the cut, they were coerced with gifts and celebrations and were only told about the ‘benefits’ of the cut, never the harmful side effects. Despite the fact that procedure was conducted traditionally, Eliza says that they were keen on protecting themselves from infections. They carried their own razor blades, and the gloves that the woman conducting the practice wore were changed after every procedure.

Eliza says that the procedure was very painful. She underwent the Clitoridectomy type of FGM. Her clitoris was completely removed. She however says that her daughter will not go through the cut since it is unnecessary. She further says that she witnessed some girls who had been circumcised alongside her dropping out of school so as to get married, simply because they had been declared grownups and also to bring wealth to their families through marriage. Fortunately, she did not have any complications during childbirth as a result of FGM.

Years back, uncircumcised women in Kuria faced a lot of problems. Men in the community would not want to marry an uncircumcised woman and if they did, the woman would eventually get circumcised during child birth, sometimes without their knowledge. The uncut also faced discrimination by the community. For example, they would not be allowed to pick vegetables in the farm alongside other women and they would not receive any form of respect whenever they visited other homesteads. Luckily, the war against FGM started prevailing in the year 2015.

With the introduction of laws and policies by enforcing consequences against the enablers of the vice, fewer cases are being reported. Unfortunately, without communal sensitization on the harmful effects of FGM, some continue with the practice, although in hiding to avoid being arrested. The desire to be accepted has led many young girls into willingly undergo the cut, albeit the consequences. FGM has been deeply embedded in the community as a major custom and tradition, so much so that despite being civilized, members of the Kuria community still feel the need to do it.

As I spoke to Eliza and a few other locals of Gwikonge village, I realized that FGM is basically more of a psychological issue rather than physical to the people of Kuria. Although the physical effects of the cut have reduced over the years with the emergence of modern medicine, the same cannot be said about psychological aspect. Almost everyone that underwent the cut did it simply because it is their tradition and also so as to fit in. They are aware that there are basically no real benefits of circumcising the women, but they simply cannot forgo this tradition. According to one of the locals, the best way to eradicate this vice is to sensitize and educate the men, not just the girls, on the harmful effects of the cut and also on the sexual benefits of marrying an uncircumcised woman.

There are a few organizations that have set camp in the area and are going around local schools giving education on the harmful effects of FGM. Pastors have also joined the fight and are including the FGM awareness in their summons. Despite a lot of efforts being put in place by state and non-state organizations to eradicate the vice in terms of information campaigns and policy changes, practical challenges still prevail e.g. lack of permanent and operational rescue and safe centers in the region.

FGM is basically violence against women and girls, child abuse and sexual assault. It can cause major psychological challenges such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Let us not forget the physical problems despite the fact that they have reduced over the years. They include severe bleeding, excessive scar tissue formation, infection of the reproductive system, complication during childbirth, problems urinating and menstruating, problems having sex, shock and even death. The fight against FGM is stronger and more resilient. It is my sincere hope that we prevail in protecting young and vulnerable girls from this vice.

Next: “It dawned on me that my value was monetary”, by Bosibori Osusu.

About the author:
Bosibori Osusu is a Kenyan Journalist. She lives and works in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya.

About the image:
The photo was taken by Bosibori Osusu on 11 May 2022.

Suggested citation:
Bosibori Osusu: Is FGM still a cause for concern in Kuria, Migori County in Kenya?. MissionField News (ISSN 2813-2270) https://missionfield.news/2023/3_FGM 2023-04-20.