Ingrained cultureIn Kenya, the recently marked ‘International Day for Zero Tolerance’ to FGM, which was held in Garissa county early this week, has exposed habits that evenly discourage or abet FGM practice across the country. For instance, in Garissa county, there are three major sub-clans under the Ogaden, namely Samawathal, Abdiwaq and Auliyan. Their opinion on whether to discard FGM practice among girls and women is determined by elders, as clanism reigns supreme. So if they can be educated on the dangers of FGM to girls and women, its prevalence rate in Garissa will plummet. Nationally, statistics indicate that FGM practice has dropped to 21 per cent, as compared to 38 per cent in 1998.

Source: The Star March 09, 2017 20:56 UTC