The Police and National Government Administrative Officers have been challenged to be on the forefront of fighting retrogressive culture of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Narok County to eradicate the practice by the year 2022.
Area County Commissioner Evans Achoki asked chiefs to be on guard and work with police officers to arrest those with the intention of engaging in the practice in their areas of jurisdiction.
“The President has already directed us to end this retrogressive practice by the year 2022, but in Narok county we want to eliminate the practice completely in 2021 and see that by the time we get to 2022, the county is 100 percent free of FGM,” Achoki said.
The county commissioner spoke yesterday at the William Ole Ntimama Stadium during celebrations to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Sixteen days of gender activism that began on November 25 to December 10 were aimed at sensitising the community on the need to end gender based violence in the society.
Commissioner Achoki warned police officers who collaborate with residents to hide culprits of FGM that they risk losing their jobs as the government has already declared war on the outdated practice.
“The police who take bribes in order to hide evidence in court should be warned that their days are over because we will use all intelligence on the ground to nab them; everybody must collaborate to end this practice that impacts negatively on the girl child,” he said.
He reiterated that girls in the county should be given equal opportunity to compete with those from other counties by being subjected to a decent life.
“We want all our girls to go to school not to get married early after undergoing FGM. This is why we will leave no stone unturned until the practice is completely wiped out,” said Achoki.
He observed that over 30 suspects of FGM have been arraigned in court in the month of November and December adding that they will not relent in arresting those involved in the practice.
The County Executive in Charge of Education and Gender Cicilia Wepali said the practice was illegal and must be discouraged in the county as it impacts negatively on young women.
“We are not begging you to finish the practice now, but we are saying that we must end the practice as it has no benefit to society,” said Ms Wepali.
She called on all government officers especially teachers and doctors to continue preaching the gospel of anti-FGM to discourage those with intentions of engaging in the practice.
Among those who participated in the event were the police officers, prison wardens, Maasai Mara University and local Non Governmental Organisations.
By Ann Salaton
