NAKURU TOWN,RIFT VALLEY PROVINCE FGM ON THE RISE IN URBAN AREA THIS FGM SEASON IN KENYA..BY LUCY MASHUA

The Director of Gap Link in Nakuru town Tom Mboya has said that Nakuru is among the major towns that are practicing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the country. Speaking in Nakuru town on Friday morning during a press briefing, Mboya said that FGM had shifted from rural areas to urban areas ever since the government became tough on the communities which were still performing the act in the countryside. With reference to a recent research by the Gap Link, Mboya pointed that women visit their grand daughters who are living in major towns during the holiday season so as to perform FGM on the children without the government realizing. "FGM is on the rise in Nakuru town and that's why many grandmothers have adopted the new techniques of instead of the grand daughters visiting them in the rural areas to perform the FGM," Mboya noted. The Director of Gap Link called out on the government and women rights bodies to be extra vigilant during this holiday season. "During this holiday season and festive season the government and the women rights bodies need to be extra vigilant on the ground because this acts of FGM could be going on unnoticed by the systems," said Mboya. Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Leading in lobbying for HR 2221: The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack. http://twitter.com/Mashua http://mashuavoiceforthevoiceless.blogspot.com/ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mashua-Against-FGM/225406701415

GIRLS HAVE STARTED RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME, THIS FGM SEASON IN EAST AFRICA:(,WHILE WE CELEBRATE HOLIDAYS HERE HELPLESS GIRLS ARE RUNNING SCARED:( FORWARD UK IS HELPING CDF WITH TECHNICAL SUPPORT IN TANZANIA..AMB LUCY MASHUA

In Tanzania girls are fleeing home away from the knife, Mara — SOME girls have started fleeing their homes fearing that they might be forced to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM) this season, in the Northern Tarime District of Mara Region. Children Dignity Forum (CDF), a local NGO that has been on the forefront of anti-FGM awareness campaigns in Tarime in recent years, confirmed the reports yesterday. "Last week, there were three girls who fled from Masurura and Kitaguti villages about 60 km to Tarime town and they spent two days on the way," the CDF Mobilizing Actions to Safeguard Girls Rights Coordinator, Mr Joram Wimmo, said.

"We are making arrangements to send the girls to Masanga where there is a rescue centre," the official added. There is fear that about hundreds of girls mostly school children are line-up for mutilation in the entire Tarime District of Mara Region. FGM is illegal, according to the law. The organization strives to cut the number of girls lined-up for mutilation this season (November and December) in the area. Mr Wimmo also said the NGO is getting support from the police gender desk at the Tarime Special Regional Police Zone. A few weeks ago the NGO conducted an anti-FGM public dialogue that brought together key stakeholders such as girls, mutilators, parents, local, religious and traditional leaders. They are also going through Tarime rural villages conducting meetings to deliver anti-FGM messages in the area, according to Mr Wimmo. Under the project, CDF is also creating awareness campaigns against child marriages and early pregnancies in various parts of Mara Region. The NGO is getting technical support from Forward (UK) and sponsored by COMIC Relief also from the UK. Thank you to this two forward UK and COMIC relief organisations supporting CDF.

Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Leading in lobbying for HR 2221: The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack. http://twitter.com/Mashua http://mashuavoiceforthevoiceless.blogspot.com/ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mashua-Against-FGM/225406701415

FGM IS A GENDER DISCRIMINATION BY CULTURE AND RELIGION.

Njoro Division Officer (DISTRICT OFFICER), Peter Kariuki, has warned that any parent who will be found carrying out Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) during the coming December holiday will be arrested and taken to the court. Speaking during an academic day at Kongongeri Primary School, Kariuki said that those parents who still practise FGM are going against the new Constitution, adding that traditional mutilation method on women has been buried. "Mutilation among our girls is a kind of discrimination, and has both physically and mentally problems and therefore it should not be practised,” he noted. He told the area chiefs to be more serious on this issue to ensure that the girls are no longer subjected to discrimination by the culture or religion!.

Ambassador Lucy S. Mashua, President of Mashua Voice for the Voiceless, International Assisting and advocating for U.S. refugees and women’s rights Global Ambassador for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Chairperson of the Worldwide Campaign Against FGM Leading in lobbying for HR 2221: The Girl's Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley and Rep. Mary Bono Mack. http://twitter.com/Mashua http://mashuavoiceforthevoiceless.blogspot.com/ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mashua-Against-FGM/225406701415