Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has issued a stern directive ordering the arrest of elders and all those involved in perpetrating female genital mutilation (FGM) in Kerio Valley and other parts of the country.
Speaking during the Mazingira Day tree-planting exercise at Embobut in Elgeyo Marakwet, Murkomen said the government will not tolerate any cases of FGM during the upcoming December holidays a period often associated with increased incidents of the practice.
Murkomen identified several high-risk areas, including Marakwet, West Pokot, Samburu, Kisii, Migori, and parts of the Northeastern region. He stated that security teams have been activated across these counties to enforce the government’s directive and ensure that no girl falls victim to the outlawed practice.
“I do not want to hear anything like FGM here in Marakwet come December. If anything like that happens, those involved will be arrested,” the CS warned.
He condemned the retrogressive practice, saying it continues to destroy the lives of young girls who are often forced to drop out of school and enter early marriages. Murkomen emphasized that the government is committed to protecting the education and future of girls.
“We are building schools so that our children get educated. Those interfering with the lives of our girls must be stopped,” he said.
Murkomen also directed chiefs and other government officers to take responsibility for ensuring that FGM is eradicated in their jurisdictions, warning that they will be held accountable if cases are reported.
In addition to addressing FGM, the CS urged residents to support environmental conservation efforts by planting trees and protecting the Embobut Forest, aligning with President William Ruto’s vision to plant 15 billion trees to improve the country’s forest cover and environmental health.
