BY MANUEL ODENY

Gender activists in Migori county have started process of integrating back to society girls who escaped female genital mutilation among the Kuria community as schools are set to re-open for academic calendar next week.

From November this year the Bwirege clan in Kuria region cutting across both Kenya and Tanzania started circumcision period forcing several girls to flee their homes to avoid the cut.

At Komotobo Maranatha Mission in Kuria East sub-county 120 girls have been seeking shelter at the facility for the past two months after being rejected by their parents.

Activists said the girls will be safe at the shelter until January 5 when schools re-open as they are sure the circumcision period will be over.

“But most of these girls have been rejected by their families and with schools set to re-open next week we have started process of counseling to ensure they are back to the family to continue with their education,” Benter Odhiambo, Coordinator at Micontrap Kenya said.

She was speaking on Tuesday when the organisation organised a donation of food and toiletries to the girls before having a boding and counseling session with them to celebrate the festive season.

She said activists from the region are out to ensure there is hundred per cent transition of education which is the main problem they face immediately after circumcision.

“Once circumcised girls are considered mature and are ready for marriage or started engaging in sex and marriage early which see low rates of reporting back to school,” she said.

Already counselors have started talking to parents and guardians of girls at the rescue center to allow them to go back and join schools.

Denis Marwa, the center manager said since 2007 they opened their doors for fleeing girls as the region lacks a government owned rescue center and ever since they have been receiving girls fleeing circumcision with some coming from as far as Tanzania.

“We have girls whose parents were arrested and are undergoing the judicial process, while we have others whose parents have outwardly rejected any attempt of them going back to the family which will affect their education,” Marwa said.

He said at the center they have been training the girls on life skills and seeking role models of other girls who fled there earlier and are either married, professional or in school to encourage the girls.

“We will have to release them back to their families in one way or the other because schools are set to open, we have created a team of elders, church leaders and family members to ensure they are re-integrated back,” he said.

Colleta Bwahi, Micontrap Kenya CEO said already they will ensure they get data from schools and public administration on transition rate.

The three called on government to help build a rescue center that will help girls seek longer and safer environment when they flee FGM.

They said for over two decades calls by activists to have the center have been met with no action from government and elected leaders.