Kikuyu elders raise alarm over FGM return
The Kikuyu Council of elders (Kiama Kia Ma) has raised an alarm over the creeping back of female genital mutilation among the Kikuyu community.
The council condemned the practice which they termed as archaically retrogressive, inhuman and distanced themselves from the Gwata Ndai (take a riddle) cultural group which they alleged is involved in the vice.
Through King (Muthamaki) Gitau Thiong'o, the elders called upon the police to arrest and prosecute all those perpetrating what he called "evil against our innocent women and girls".
"Why do people want to take our community backwards instead of forward?" asked the visibly concerned elder.
He spoke at Ituri Shrine in Juja on Saturday where hundreds of elders had gathered to append their signatures to endorse the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report ahead of the plebiscite.
Flanked by Kiambu Governor James Nyoro, Gitau said that forced female circumcision in the name of cultural redemption is a barbaric practice which is an infringement to women's human rights.
"Kiama Kia Ma is against the outdated practice where married men are even forcing their elderly wives to face the knife against their wishes. Let the law take it's course because the practice is also a crime in Kenya," he said.
In March this year, the Catholic Church in Kenya through it's head Arch Bishop John Cardinal Njue cautioned it's members against joining the Gwata Ndai cultural group which he said teaches retrogressive practices including FGM.
Muthamaki Thiong'o revealed that President Uhuru Kenyatta had confided in elders that the only gift he will give the central region is the contents of the BBI report.
He said that there's no way the head of state can mislead the nation by urging voters to support the report adding that constitution making is a continuous process.
The elder said that the report would ensure that the lives and property of Kenyans, especially those not living in their native places are protected.
Campaigns for the endorsement of the BBI report has proved to be a hard nut to crack in Mt.Kenya region with campaigners adopting the Town Hall meetings strategy as their campaign arenas.
