Kajiado, Kenya – In Kajiado County, the fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has taken a strategic turn with the introduction of informants in each village by Maureen Maya, the Senior Assistant Chief of the Irng’osuani Sub location. This initiative is a response to the covert ways parents have begun employing to continue the practice, including arranging for the procedure to be done in secret at home or sending daughters across borders into Tanzania or other FGM-practicing counties.
According to Kenya News Agency, this tactic has led to a noticeable decrease in FGM cases within her jurisdiction. Informants, known only to Maya, relay information about potential FGM cases, enabling her to intervene by warning parents of the consequences. This approach has not only reduced incidents in Kajiado Central but has also gained attention from other areas such as Magadi Ward in Kajiado West Sub County and Kwale County, where residents now seek Maya’s assistance in providing similar intelligence.
Maya’s strategy extends beyond surveillance. She emphasizes education on the harmful effects of FGM and engages in dialogues with parents to change their perspective. Additionally, Maya utilizes the distribution of sanitary towels, donated by well-wishers, to adolescent girls and widows as an opportunity for further engagement and support.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain. Cross-border and inter-County FGM practices pose significant hurdles, often leaving Maya to intervene after the fact. In such cases, she ensures medical treatment for the affected girls and collaborates with the police to arrest and prosecute those responsible. Additionally, the rough terrain in Kajiado impedes rescue operations, though Maya has successfully rescued hundreds of girls and continues to support widows and vulnerable children in her location.
FGM prevalence increases during the long December holidays. In 2019, Kajiado launched a community-level policy to eradicate FGM, advocating alternative rites of passage. Further, in November 2021, a regional action plan was initiated by Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, and Ethiopia to address cross-border FGM, recognized as a major challenge in the ongoing fight against this practice.