President William Ruto has called on men to step up and protect women from the scourge of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Speaking during the launch of G7 strategy to expand women’s leadership in devolved units, Ruto underscored the importance of men serving as champions against FGM citing its detrimental effects on women’s well-being.
“Men should be champions against FGM because you know what it is. FGM destroys everything that would be good in a woman,” said Ruto.
“I know we have set targets on the subject of FGM. I want to tell men to come forward and protect our women from FGM even if it is for selfish reasons. FGM destroys women, makes them less confident, less effective and creates many challenges,” he added.
The President further raised concern over the alarming statistics on early pregnancies saying there is need to address the underlying issues contributing to the challenge.
He extended his plea to both men and women leader, urging them to work collaboratively to safeguard children, particularly girls from the adverse impacts of FGM, early marriages and early pregnancies.
“I am asking women leaders as I do men leaders to work in concert all of us to protect our children, especially from FGM, early marriages, and early pregnancies because it is destroying the future of many of our children,” he implored.
According to the Kenyan Demographic & Health Survey (KDHS) data for 2022, the prevalence of FGM is 15pc in the country, meaning that 15pc of girls and women aged 15 to 49 years have been circumcised.
