President Uhuru Presides Over Landmark Declaration to End FGM in the Samburu Community.

H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday presided over the landmark declaration by Samburu elders to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Child Marriage in the community at Kisima in Samburu County.

The Head of State congratulated the elders for taking a bold step to protect their women and girls from harmful cultural practices and appealed to them to help him meet his goal to end FGM in Kenya by 2022.

“My commitment to eliminate FGM in Kenya by 2022 will be achieved if each one of us takes their own initiative. The journey we have started today will require each one of us to play their part,” he said.

His Excellency challenged communities practising FGM to discard the retrogressive cultural practice by finding alternative rites of passage.

“I know it is possible for our girls to go through alternative rites of passage without suffering,” President Kenyatta said.

While highlighting the benefits of educating girls, the President advised the Samburu community to give their boys and girls an equal opportunity to attend school.

Cabinet Secretary, Prof. Margaret Kobia welcomed the elders intervention to end FGM in the Samburu Community noting that it had been a rigorous 3 year process. She lauded the development partners for their support in championing for alternative rites of passage for girls.

Prof. Kobia noted that an equal world will only be achieved by ending FGM and other harmful practices.

Leaders present at the event were Ministry of Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Keriako Tobiko; Samburu County Governor, Hon. Moses Lenolkulal; Marsabit County Governor, Hon. Mohamud Ali; Chief Administrative Secretaries, Hon. Rachel Shebesh, Hon. Beatrice Elachi and Hon. Linah Jebii Kilimo; Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs, Ms. Nadia Abdalla; Ministry of Health Chief Administrative Secretary, Dr. Mercy Mwangangi; Ministry of Education, Ms. Mumina Bonaya; Principal Secretary, State Department for Gender, Prof. Collette Suda and representatives from the development partners among other dignitaries and Government officials.