Chiefs and their assistants in Tharaka Nithi County who fail to act against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in their respective areas of jurisdiction will lose their jobs.
The Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner (CC), Beverly Opwora has issued a stern warning that the government would be very ruthless in dealing with cases of FGM, as some parents might be tempted to take their daughters through the outlawed cultural practice during the long December holiday.
“Beware that you will be held personally responsible for all such cases reported from your respective areas,” reiterated Opwora, adding that chiefs in the region who fail to arrest culprits involved in the vice have no business working for the government.
The CC said that the national government was on a mission to make Kenya, an FGM free state by 2022 and that it all depended on the local public administration to make the dream come true.
Opwora was speaking while leading the County Implementation Coordination Committee (CDICC) on a site visit to inspect the implementation of national government projects in Igambang’ombe Sub- county on Friday.
Meanwhile, despite concerted efforts of the government to fight FGM, some communities have remained reluctant in discarding the outdated cultural practice. Cases are usually on the rise during holidays since perpetrators have adequate time to access the girls.
The CC further called on residents of the area to cooperate with Land Adjudication officers in order to hasten the process and enable them acquire land tenure documents and make their land more economically viable.
By Dominic Ntoogo/David Mutwiri
