Tharaka Nithi County Anti-female Genital Mutilation Policy 2020

Abstract

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) or female circumcision referred in this policy as FGM is a persistent global problem. It is condemned internationally as violation of rights of girls and women. Its historic origin is unknown but it is said to have originated in ancient Egypt and Sudan. World Health Organization (WHO) defines FGM/C as ‘all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons’. WHO classifies FGM/C into four types: Type I – Clitoridectomy, Type II – Excision, Type III – Infibulation and Type IV – Other (including all other harmful procedures done to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes).FGM/C is practised in many countries in Africa and Asia, and in diaspora communities of America, Europe and Australia and New Zealand. UNCIEF database indicates that in Africa, FGM/C is as high as 98% in Somalia, 96% in Guinea, 93% in Djibouti, 91% in Egypt and 89% in Eretria, and as low as 27% in Senegal and 26% in Uganda. Kenya, the national prevalence of FGM was 21% in 2014 (KDHS, 2014), 27% in 2009 (KDHS, 2010) and 32% in 2003 (KDHS, 2003). FGM prevalence was found to be high among the Somali (98%), Kisii (96%) and Maasai (73%). In Embu the prevalence was 51%, Kalenjin (40%), Meru (40%), Taita (32%), Kamba (23%) and among Kikuyu (21%). However, there were variations across regions with North Eastern recording the highest (98%) and Western the least (1%).1