By Christine Tarayie.
The fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has received a major boost after a section of Morans drawn from Magadi Division, Kajiado West declared their support in fighting the retrogressive practice.
The Morans declared their fight against FGM, saying they have been enlightened and now have joined other stakeholders in ensuring their female counterparts are safe from the ‘cut’.
The initiative under the Youth Enlighters Group which started with 15 elite Morans has in a span of one year managed to bring over a hundred Morans on board despite challenges of the deep rooted cultural practices in remote areas Kajiado West Sub-county. Speaking in Magadi town during a ceremony that brought the Morans and the community together where they declared their support against the vice, the group Chairperson, Jeremiah Kutanya said the Morans have intensified the campaigns in a bid to boost the girl-child’s welfare.
“Morans have been a major stumbling block to the fight against FGM especially by refusing to marry ‘uncut’ girls. The deep-rooted culture taught them maturity of a girl comes through the cut. The illiterate girls also fear for their future and end up undergoing the ‘cut’ to get a husband from the Maa community. We have moved in earnest to create awareness and sensitize them on the negative impact of the vice,’’said Kutanya.