BY MANUEL ODENY

The World Vision has started a novel program to fight Female Genital Mutilation among the Kuria community in Migori County through dairy goat farming.

The group helped distribute over 500 dairy goats to some 504 vulnerable households which will also help fight gender based violence and uplift rights of children within the Kuria community.

World Vision’s Cluster Manager for Homa Bay and Migori regions Shadrack Yator said the Sh6 million initiative aims at promoting nutrition especially for children below the age of five.

“We will also help in boosting economic income within the households which has attachment to the rise and increase of FGM,” Yator said.

FGM is being practiced within the Kuria community as one way of getting livelihood.

“Through the distribution of the dairy goats, they aim at creating an alternative source of livelihoods to these households to help reduce the effects of FGM against children and other forms of violence against children like early marriage and child labor,” Yator said.

Agriculture County Executive Lucas Mosenda said the initiative will help uplift the vulnerable families economically.

“Parents marry off their children at a tender age for them to get a means of getting an income. World Vision has enabled us uplift the economic status of our people,” Mosenda remarked.

Pauline Ghati, a beneficiary from Nyamosese Komosoko ward in Kuria West said the goat she has received will help in educating her children.

“It will add to my income. I will be able to sell the milk and get money,” Ms. Ghati stated.

She highlighted that the continuity of the program will help end FGM in the region saying that a large number of people from the community did not have other means of income and relied on FGM.