Ndanai-Abossi Assistant County Commissioner Ambrose Kimanzi has warned residents who practice outlawed female circumcision (FGM) that they will face the full force of the law.
Kimanzi said that though efforts by the government to root out the primitive culture have borne fruit, there are still remnants of incorrigible individuals who continue to mutilate girls and women.
He reiterated that the practice is illegal and added that those found participating in and abetting the practice would be met with tough legal action.
The administrator urged parents to be cautious to ensure that their children were not lured into the vice.
At the same time, the administrator cautioned members of the public against resolving defilement cases in Kangaroo courts, locally known as ‘kipgaa’.
He said the ‘kipgaa’ method was not only illegal but also deprived the victim of due justice while setting perpetrators free to continue with the vice, knowing they would simply bail themselves out with a token to the victim’s parents.
Area Member of the County Assembly, who is also the Majority Leader in Bomet County Assembly, Paul Kirui, called for the empowerment of the boy child, whom he termed as lagging behind both in education and economic development.
Kirui said the girls have been overly empowered at the expense of boys, whose fate has since become precarious.
The MCA said it was high time boys were encouraged to put more effort into school, saying the girls have outshined them, especially in form-four examination results.
He said the boys, as a way to cope with the unfavourable state they face, have turned to boda-boda riding while others have delved into drug and alcohol abuse, worsening the situation.
Kirui further said that taking care of family responsibilities in many homes now rests in the hands of women, who seem to be more financially well off compared to men.
By Kipngeno Korir
