- Many girls are still being subjected to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) despite the practice being outlawed in Kenya
- Despite it being viewed as a female issue, men often hold decision-making power in communities where FGM is practised
- For this reason, the “break the blade” campaign was organised to encourage men to participate actively in ending the vice
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Nairobi, Kenya – In a powerful show of solidarity against the enduring practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), crusaders against the vice launched the #BREAKTHEBLADE campaign.
Source: UGC
The event was organised through a partnership between the Nguvu Collective, the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA), and the Anti-FGM Board Kenya.
It was marked by a symbolic “breaking of the blade” activity as it rallied both women and men across Kenya to join the fight against FGM.
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The campaign’s message, Every Blade Broken is a Life Saved, aims to end this harmful tradition through united community action.
Among those leading the charge were Anti-FGM Board CEO Bernadette Resian Loloju, board chair Ipato Surum, and members of KEWOPA, including Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda.
Change leaders Selina Nkoile and Naomy Kolian, themselves survivors of FGM and prominent anti-FGM activists, shared their stories, symbolizing the strength and resilience of survivors.
During the event, key leaders and activists spoke out against FGM and encouraged widespread male participation in the cause.
The campaign drew attention to the role of men in challenging and ending FGM within their communities.
Samburu County Women Representative Pauline Lenguris noted that men often hold decision-making power in communities where FGM is practised.
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“Men must stand with us,” Lenguris asserted. “This fight isn’t just about protecting women’s health but about challenging outdated beliefs that harm entire communities.”
Preethi Herman, CEO of the Nguvu Collective, emphasized the importance of collaboration in eradicating FGM.
He added that change leaders Selina and Naomy represent a generation determined to end this trauma.
“This is not just a women’s issue—it’s a human rights issue, and men must join in the fight to protect girls and women from this violation,” Preethi Herman urged.
Statistics of Female Genital Mutilation in Kenya
While FGM prevalence in Kenya has dropped over the years, the Kenya Demographic & Health Survey (KDHS) 2022 shows that around 15% of women in Kenya have undergone the procedure.
The campaign aims to address this by mobilizing communities across generations to speak out and take action.
The participants amplified the message that “Every blade broken is a life saved” and called for an end to FGM through community engagement and advocacy through the tagline:
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“FGM is not just a women’s fight; it’s a fight for all of us. We invite men, fathers, brothers, and leaders to stand with us. Every time a blade is broken, we protect a girl’s future, health, and rights.”
Source: TUKO.co.ke
