Sounding the Alarm: A Call to End the Cycle of FGM

On a quiet Saturday morning two years ago, Felistas Onyoni was startled awake by a resounding knock on her gate.

It was the half-term holiday, and students had returned home. As she swung open her gate, she was met with a neighbour, accompanied by her young daughter.

“The woman asked if I could perform the genital cutting ritual on her daughter for a mere Kes1,500,” recounted the retired nurse, her voice heavy with disbelief and disgust. “I was appalled that she could even consider such an atrocity against an innocent child.”

The woman left in search of someone willing to take the money and carry out the cut. But this incident, a chilling reminder of countless others in the Gusii region spanning Kisii and Nyamira Counties, left a lasting imprint of pain and anguish.

According to human rights defender Esnas Nyaramba, the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) inflicts deep and lasting wounds on its victims.

“”FGM is a cruel vice that inflicts unimaginable suffering,”  Esnas Nyaramba

Esnas explains, her voice trembling with emotion. “It’s not just physical pain, but psychological scars that haunt these women for a lifetime. They endure unimaginable trauma, unable to experience the joys of intimacy, robbed of their innocence and dignity.”

Ms. Nyaramba’s resolve to combat this tradition was cemented 13 years ago. She was then researching a project in Kisii county. “Our study revealed a heartbreaking truth,” she shares, her eyes reflecting years of tireless advocacy.

“Women who underwent FGM suffered in silence, their marriages strained by the physical and emotional toll of the cut. They were denied the basic right to enjoy intimacy with their partners, their bodies bearing the burden of a senseless ritual.”

“Nearly 8 out of every 10 girls in our county have endured this horrific ritual,” she reveals, her voice tinged with sorrow. “It’s a silent epidemic, cloaked in secrecy and shame.”

However, the horrors of FGM extend beyond clandestine rituals in remote villages. There’s a disturbing trend emerging – medicalized FGM conducted by healthcare professionals.

“In a twisted betrayal of trust, nurses, doctors, and even women themselves perpetrate this violence,” Ms. Nyaramba laments. “Under the guise of tradition, they inflict irreparable harm on innocent girls, betraying their oath to heal and protect.”

As FGM’s shadows loom, the need for action has never been more urgent.

A report released on March 8, 2024, revealed a grim reality: over 230 million girls and women worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM). This staggering figure represents a 15 per cent increase compared to data released eight years ago, equating to approximately 30 million more survivors.

Released on International Women’s Day, the report by UNICEF underscored the slow progress in eradicating FGM, which lags behind population growth. Particularly in regions where FGM is prevalent, progress is insufficient, falling short of meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal to eliminate the practice by 2030. To achieve this goal, the global decline in FGM would need to be 27 times faster.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized the dire consequences of FGM, stating, “Female genital mutilation harms girls’ bodies, dims their futures, and endangers their lives.” Of increasing concern is the trend of more girls being subjected to this retrogressive rite of passage at younger ages, many before their fifth birthday. “That further reduces the window to intervene,” she warns. “We need to strengthen efforts to end this harmful practice.”

Call to End FGM

“We cannot afford to be silent bystanders,” Dr. Magangi implores, her voice echoing with urgency. “We must challenge the cultural norms that perpetuate this violence. Our silence condones the suffering of our daughters, our sisters, our mothers.”

But hope flickers amidst the darkness. Human rights campaigners, alongside the Women Representatives’ office, have pioneered alternative rites of passage, offering a beacon of hope for a generation at risk.

“These alternative rites empower young girls, celebrating their transition into womanhood without the shadow of FGM,” Esnas shares, her voice tinged with optimism. “It’s a testament to our resilience, our unwavering commitment to protect the innocence of our girls.”

However, the battle is far from won. Fragmented efforts and a lack of resources hinder progress, allowing this insidious practice to persist.

“We must stand united,” Ms. Nyaramba declares, her voice echoing with determination. “Our strength lies in solidarity, in joining forces to dismantle the walls of silence and secrecy.”

The choice is clear as we stand at the crossroads of tradition and progress.

“Together, we can rewrite the narrative,” Dr. Magangi affirms, her voice resonating with hope. “We can create a future where every girl is free from the shackles of FGM, where her body is a temple of strength, not a canvas of suffering.”