CAS, HON. SHEBESH CONDEMNS FMG PRACTICE ON INFANTS IN TAITA TAVETA

Chief Administrative Secretary, Hon. Rachel Shebesh has condemned Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) practice being undertaken in Taita Taveta County especially on infants as young as a day old baby.

In her address to the local administration officers in Taveta County on Tuesday 14^th, Hon. Shebesh affirmed that the Law is clear and has punitive obligations on such gross practice on children and called on the administrators and stakeholders to ensure that the perpetrators of FGM are brought to book.

Taita Taveta County has an FGM prevalence rate of 22% among the 22 Hotspot counties where the vice is being practiced. Worrying has been the trend on the acts aforementioned.

“We can’t have our innocent baby girls subjected to FGM, it’s not worth discussing, the recourse is, we must arrest and prosecute the perpetrators and safe guard our girls,” said Hon. Shebesh.

Meanwhile, she directed the Anti FGM Board to come up with amendments to the law so as to include sections that will address FGM being practiced on infants. Coming to further offer support towards the drafting of a County Bill that further enhances the ANTI-FGM.

The CAS wound up her working itinerary by presenting Affirmative Fund Cheques from Women Enterprise Fund and Uwezo Fund worth over Ksh 20 Million to various groups in Taita Taveta County before visiting Wundanyi Huduma Centre to assess its level of service delivery where she presented Certificates of recognition to staff members who have been on duty since Covid-19 first case was announced by the Government.

The CAS was accompanied by Anti-FGM board Chairperson, Agnes Pareiyo, UNFPA Country Representative Mr. Ademola Olajide, Taita Taveta Women Representative Hon. Lydia Haita and Taita DCC, Mr. David Kiprop.