Stakeholders have convened to review Kenya’s Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Act of 2011 to address emerging trends that threaten the progress made in combating this harmful practice. The Anti-FGM Board, in collaboration with UNICEF, recently held a multi-stakeholder meeting to discuss the evolving landscape of FGM, with a focus on medicalisation, cross-border and inter-county practices, and changing forms of mutilation.
The review, led by Anti-FGM Board CEO Bernadette Loloju, highlighted the necessity of a multi-pronged approach to eliminate FGM. The meeting served as a platform to assess the success and shortcomings of the Act, which has been in force for over a decade. Stakeholders, including law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and representatives from the children’s department, discussed the Act’s implementation, its impact on FGM prevalence, and the challenges faced in enforcement.
Key areas of concern included the medicalisation of FGM, where health professionals are involved in performing the practice, and cross-border and inter-county FGM, which undermines national efforts to eradicate it. Despite the law, data shows that FGM continues to occur in some regions, often hidden from authorities. The review included an analysis of prosecutions and convictions related to FGM, revealing gaps in the law that have allowed the practice to persist.
The United Nations’ survey findings showing that 65% of men whose partners have undergone FGM oppose the practice point to a shift in societal attitudes. However, the ongoing prevalence of FGM in certain areas has raised concerns about the sustainability of efforts to end it. In response, nominated MP Irene Mayaka has called for an extended campaign to ensure full eradication, urging the government to report on the achievements and future strategies to combat FGM beyond 2022.
This collaborative effort to revise the law is aimed at strengthening the legislative framework and ensuring it aligns with current realities to better protect women and girls from FGM.
