BY MANUEL ODENY

Migori security team have defended themselves against sharp criticism from gender activists over wide spread circumcision of Kuria.

Speaking to the press in his office in Migori town, county Kisilu Mutua said so far the police have been able to arrest four perpetrators including a cutter who had 72 knives in her possession and believed to be from the nearby Tanzanian.

He said they have also rescued 340 girls who are fleeing the cut.

“We know this year there has been an increased rate of the practice because more Kurian clans decided to do the cut this year and we have witnessed the largest number of FGM practise in both Kuria Sub-Counties as compared to other years”, said Mutua.

He shielded government against criticism saying security officers are on a stand to ensure the retrogressive vice is eliminated especially the cross-border FGM.

Earlier, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the county condemned the ongoing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the Kuria Region.

Speaking during a media brief at one of the local hotels in Migori town the CSO’s representatives said that the cut has been a daily occurrence, a worrying statistic that the majority of girls may be subjected to inhumane acts before the end of the December holidays.

WHO Lives NGO Official, James Mukundi noted that one of the contributing factors to the rise of the FGM cases in November and December has been the reckless glorifying sentiments by some politicians calling for the preservation of cultures and traditions among the communities.

Mukundi said that FGM is a retrogressive culture that should be shunned and any glorification of the same goes against the 2010 constitution that provides the right of protection of children.

He disclosed that so far, two individuals believed to be cutters have been arrested urging the security agencies to intensive the arrest to curb the vice.

Other challenges that have resulted in the rise of the FGM in Kuria include the importation of FGM cutters from neighbouring Tanzania which makes it difficult to arrest them as well as the cross-border FGM.