By Manuel Odeny, @NyanzaNews
Youths from minority Kuria community in Migori county have been challenged to emulate the youth led demonstration on national discourse to reverse harmful practices in the society.
The country in the past months have seen youth led by Generation Z engage in push for change against the national change to change corruption and floor a financial bill.
Gender and youth stakeholders have said the same push the change can be replicated not only in Kuria, but also other communities that still practice the outlawed Female Genital Mutilation.
“Kenyan youths have placed us in international map as change agents, we need that same energy transformed in ending FGM not only in Kuria but also in other communities still practicing the vice,” Benter Ombwayo, Micontrap-Kenya coordinator said.
Ombwayo said the same way youths mobilised the entire country to push down a punitive bill and stop government budget making process is the same energy to change retrogressive cultures.
“We believe youths who are more educated and can make decision can force through older generations to make changes and ensure the next one don’t pass through bad culture,” she said.
She was speaking at Nyabirongo Maranatha Church in Mabera sub-county during a meeting with youths from the Kuria community about a five year program the organization is set to role targeting them to end the vice.
“We will work with youths in rural set-up to help guide them on the need to push through changes in society and hold those still passing through the illegal practice to task,” she said.
George Alambo, an officer with Micontrap-Kenya said they will work with youth groups and change makers and offer guidance on harnessing their power to reverse FGM in Kuria community.
In over a decade, Micontrap-Kenya has been fighting against FGM and Sexual Gender Based Violence among the Kuria, Maasai and Muslim communities in Migori and part of Narok counties.
“The fight against the vice has now shifted to youths to help push the older generation to change and prevent the younger ones to face the same challenges, we have gotten an impetus from the Gen Z demos,” Alambo said.
Everline Nanyokia and Steve Chacha youth mobilers who attended the ‘town hall’ meeting organised by the organization said they will take up the opportunity.
“In the past stakeholders only targeted elders and those in government officers and a chance to directly engage youths will help us end the vice completely,” Nanyokia said.
Lucy Rioba, Mabera sub-county Public Health Officer said among Kuria three out of five women and girls are affected by FGM which has seen the area record high cases of Female Genital Mutilation.
“We are ready to engage Kuria youths because from August to December the festive for circumcision starts and afterwards we often record high cases of gender abuse,” Rioba said.
She said teen pregnancies, marriages and school drop outs followed by faily neglect have increased in the community because of the vice.
