26/06/2026
One interesting fact about FGM is that in most practicing communities, it is practice done by women on fellow women (girls). Whereas more than 90% of Kenyans know FGM is bad, and its illegal in Kenya, they still continue to practice it due to social norms that bounds women and girls to conform. Men, who greatly influence the continuation of this practice, have continued to support the efforts to end it only in principle, but in practice, they (men) support the practice. This is evident by sustained sanctions on men who marry women who have not undergone FGM by being excluded from important community platforms, and undertones undermining women who have not undergone the practice.
However, through our sustained under-the-tree conversations, this tide is changing. Men who have held the tradition dear to them for so long are now actively championing for its elimination, not just among other families, but starting from their very own families, to lead by example. In Kajiado's Kisapuk location, the area chief, who is a trained champion has reported drastic drop in cases of FGM being reported by his community, both at community level and at health facilities. This, he attributes to the efforts invested in engaging men and boys. Further, he notes that blame games from community members with regards to accusation that its either the mother or the father of the girl who forced the girl to undergo the practice has gone down due to joint community awareness efforts.
As we continue to transform communities to abandon the practice, we believe engaging men and boys is as important as engaging women and girls to end this practice by 2030. Ending FGM is a collective responsibility.
UNICEF UNFPA Anti-FGM Board Kenya Progressive Cultures Community Based Organization
