Chiefs abetting FGM, rape to be punished
The government has renewed its fight against female genital mutilation and those abetting rape. Garissa county commissioner Joshua Chepchieng said the government will hold administrators accountable in areas where the crimes are committed. He spoke at a baraza in Garissa Ndogo yesterday.
Other measures to reduce the cases include taking tough action on parents, guardians and community elders who resolve the cases through ‘maslah’ — a traditional conflict resolution mechanism. The biggest problem in fighting FGM and settling rape cases in rural areas is that the small communities live by themselves, making it hard for any third party to be involved, the county commissioner said. “The government will act firmly on these cases and work closely with the Judiciary to speed up such cases when they are reported,” Chepchieng said.
He added, “For the chiefs, you better be warned. You will be personally held responsible when such cases happen within your areas.” Northeastern has one of the highest FGM rates in the country. Statistics show more than 98 per cent of girls undergo the cut.
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