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Female Genital Mutilation: From the Life Story of Girls in Remote Villages in Pokot County, Kenya

Amal K Halder, Shiuli Das and Golam Dostogir Harun

Objective: Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) has highest prevalence in African countries. The objective of this qualitative study was to describe the situation of FGM/C victims in Pokot County, located in a remote area of northwest Kenya. Methods: In September 2009, the study team conducted key informant interviews, visited girls at communities and a rescue centre and, conducted group discussion with the girls at rescue centre. Results: FGM/C was common and popular among the Pokot community mainly because the event brings the social recognition of an adolescent or adult female to become eligible for her marriage. Although the hazardous FGM/C practices encompassed many health dangers as witnessed by the Pokot community girls/women, the Pokot community fought to maintain the custom as because it represented prestige and identity, which was their duty and responsibility to maintain. Conclusion: FGM/C was still common in Kenyan Pokot communities, although efforts from the development agencies and government acts kept working against those harmful practices. The Kenyan government's act of prohibition against FGM/C was not being enforced.