FGM And Culture In Kenya

In Kenya, FGM is seen as a cultural tradition with no connections to any one religion. FGM began as an act of sacrifice to the gods to improve the relationship between gods and humans, as well as to enhance the fertility of a woman. It is seen as a necessary rite of passage for a girl who is transitioning into womanhood.

Research shows it is more prominent in rural areas and among unemployed or uneducated women. Most of the people who practice FGM in Kenya are older and the younger generation frowns at the practice, this gives hope that fewer people will be put to this in the future. However, there is also the concern that though most frown at the practice, they may still follow through because of the stigma and shame it brings to the family when a girl is rescued to go through the process. Not subjecting a daughter to FGM can lead to difficulty finding a husband . There is widespread belief among those who practice it, that ancestors will curse girls who have not undergone the procedure.

In Kenya, The practice was first carried out as an offering to the gods, getting cut was just as honourable as losing a child in battle, every woman though scared, she would rather go through cutting than humiliate their family. In present times, however, FGM has been linked to ideas about feminity, purity, and modesty. Some believe it controls female sexuality and promotes fidelity, and girls who go through with cutting are rewarded with a higher bride price.

The highest rate of FGM in Kenya is within the Kisii community, where a staggering 98% of women are circumcised. Type I, clitoridectomy, entails removing some or all of the clitoris or prepuce and is the most common form of clitoridectomy in Kenya. he procedures are generally carried out by traditional excisors on girls between the ages of 3 and 13 and without the aid of anaesthesia. It is usually performed under unsanitary conditions in a village or woods. The procedure is frequently performed during puberty rites with the excisor using the same instrument on a number of girls without proper sterilisation.