The Abagusii community in the larger Gusii region has been indicted for practicing the most callous gender based violence(GBV) on the girl-child, female genital mutilation(FGM).
Marking World GBV day, speakers during the occasion condemned the harmful and retrogressive practice calling for its eradication.
A Director of the Anti-FGM board, Rashid Omar urged area leaders to tackle its medicalization as one way of stamping it out.
Omar assured residents of concerted efforts from President William Ruto to ensure the practice was eliminated and that it was no longer a pertinent issue in the 21st century.
Kisii county Public Health Director, Dr. Richard Onkware decried the current FGM prevalence rate which stood at 84% while the GBV was 43% against the nations of 18%.
Onkware faulted parents for inviting health workers to perform the rite of passage in secrecy at their homes, which he says leads to sexual and physical GBV in the county.
Judicial officers were training health workers on the collection and preservation of evidence on sexual assault to assist in building a watertight case against the perpetrators.
Kirinyaga Women Rep Jane Maina called for an end to the FGM saying it was primitive and lowered the self-esteem of women.
She lamented over continued violence meted on parents by the youth over property ownership and physical assault on wives from husbands.
Maina pledged to offer free legal services for victims of GBV.
BY MOSES MARANGA