3 women arrested in Majengo estate for subjecting girls to FGM

Police in Thika on Tuesday afternoon arrested three women for subjecting four young girls to female genital mutilation (FGM).

The girls, aged between 9 and 12 years, were rescued from a house in Majengo estate where they have been holed up since last Friday after undergoing the outlawed cultural practice.

Thika West Sub-County Police Commander Beatrice Kiraguri said they raided the home after some tip off from the members of public.

“Today, we got information that there were some small girls who had undergone FGM and upon raiding this house, we busted the women among them two mothers of the girls and a grandmother to one of them. We understand that the circumcision was administered on Friday by a woman from Kiandutu who we are now pursuing,” explained Kiraguri.

She added that they were still looking for the parents of the other two girls and would take action once they were apprehended.

Biashara Location Chief Simon Kamau thanked the residents for relaying the information that led to the arrest.

He warned those still stuck in the outdated practice that the law will soon catch up with them.

The women were detained at Thika Police Station as the girls to were taken to Thika Level 5 Hospital for medical examination and care.

The arrest comes just hours after President Uhuru Kenyatta warned of his personal commitment and that of the Government of Kenya to providing the leadership necessary to ensure that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) ended within this generation.

“I am referring to the 4 million girls who, every year, have to endure the painful and traumatic effects of Female Genital Mutilation. I would like to restate my personal commitment and that of the Government of Kenya to providing the leadership necessary to ensure that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) ends within this generation,” said President Kenyatta.

The president was speaking during the official opening of the International Conference on Population and Development, at KICC, Nairobi.

He challenged the world leaders to, at a minimum, commit to eliminate FGM which remains one of the most serious violations of human rights of women and girls.

“Last week, we signed an agreement with religious and cultural elders to eliminate FGM by 2022,” he said.