Joint Programme on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting ... Joint Programme on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Annual Report 2016 3 II. Background on Joint Programme efforts in Kenya

UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme

on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting

Annual Report 2016

UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Annual Report 2016 1

Signatures of the Representatives

UNFPA Representative:

UNICEF Representative:

Country: KenyaReporting Period: 1st January – 31st December 2016

2016 Budget: UNFPA: 842,299 UNICEF: 974,679.58 Total: 1,816,978.58

2016 Expenditures & Commitments: UNFPA: 771,568.58 UNICEF: 974,679.58 Total: 1,746,248.16

UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Annual Report 2016

Photo 1: Girls performing song and dance against FGM during their own Alternative of Passage organised jointly by UNFPA and UNICEF in Samburu County.

2 UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Annual Report 2016

I. Summary of key achievements

• Implementation of the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act 2011: The Joint Programme on FGM has continued to support capacity building of implementing partners and development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for FGM cases by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP). As a result of capacity building of prosecutors, there is good progress in the enforcement of the Act and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), has continued to prosecute FGM cases under the Act. In 2016, 751 FGM cases were reported, 9 withdrawn because of lack of evidence, 10 prosecuted and convicted, 49 on-going and 7 cases acquitted in focus counties. Though successful, it has not been without challenges as sustaining prosecutions is dependent on the evidence and its availability. The practice mainly occurs in remote areas with poor infrastructure and as a result, the witnesses are at times unable to make it to the courts due to poor access to means of transport and at times due to lack of funds as well as threats from some community members.

• Community Declaration, Alternative Rites of Passage and Mentorship: Five communities2 declared abandonment of FGM, while 3,733 girls were prevented from undergoing FGM through Alternative Rites of Passage and Mentorship Programme. The community mobilization programmes reached 383 boys, 4,500 parents (3,000 female and 1,500 male) in the programme intervention counties in 2016. The mentorship programmes for both girls and boys; and Alternative Rites of Passage (ARP) and protection of girls who are at risk of FGM were conducted through schools and other community based structures. Both the mentorship and ARP programmes rallied community members, government officials, civil society organisations and UN Bodies to collectively sustain continued momentum and accelerate abandonment of FGM through public declaration and affirmations.

• National Policy on the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) 2016-2020: With technical and financial support from the Joint Programme, the National Policy on the abandonment of FGM 2008-2013 was reviewed and updated in line with the Kenya Constitution 2010, the Prohibition of FGM Act 2011, other relevant national legislation, and the Sustainable Development Goals. The document has been submitted for Cabinet approval.

• Improved Government led Coordination at National, County and Community levels: The Joint Programme has continued to support national and county level coordination structures through the Anti-FGM Board and County Anti-FGM Networks. The coordination structures have continued to focus on a multi-sectoral approach in the prevention and response to FGM and has facilitated strong partnerships. This has led to the protection of girls from the cut and has strengthened the available prevention and response services.

• Multi-sectoral intervention and targeting: The Joint Programme utilised the comparative advantage of UNICEF and UNFPA in rallying services such as psychosocial support, education, health and legal aid. Procedural guidelines for referral and consultation which is integrated within the Child Protection and Gender sectors were developed and operationalized across the focus counties. Service delivery was/is provided through government line ministries including the Department of Children Services, education and health, by county governments and by Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

1 Narok, Meru,Elgeyo Marakwet, Migori (Kuria East), Marsabit, West Pokot, Kajiado, Machakos,2 Pokot, Kuria, Kisii, Maasai and Samburu


II. Background on Joint Programme efforts in Kenya

Kenya has made progress in accelerating abandonment of FGM. The national prevalence of FGM in Kenya stands at 21%3 compared to 27%4 in 2008/9, and 32%5 in 2003. In spite of the steady decline nationally, the prevalence still remains very high amongst some communities such as the Somali at 94%, Samburu 86%, Kisii 84%, and Maasai at 78%.

The government is taking lead in coordination of the Anti- FGM Programme and is committed to the acceleration of the abandonment of FGM. The Anti-FGM Board which is a Semi-Autonomous Government Agency under the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender is responsible for providing an oversight, coordination and advisory role in matters of FGM Programme implementation in Kenya. This is evident through the operationalization of the Anti-FGM Board whose mandate is to coordinate and implement the Prohibition of the FGM Act 2011, as well as allocation of resources for implementation. For example, in 2014/15, the Government allocated US$ 415,841 (KES 42 million) and in 2016/17, US$ 910,891 (KES 92 million).

The Joint Programme on FGM plays a catalytic role and brings together different stakeholders. This has led to joint coordination at the national, county and community levels, enhancing programme implementation and avoiding duplication of interventions. The Joint programme also continues to play a crucial role in high level advocacy and provides a platform for partners to jointly plan, execute programmes to end FGM, and share success stories and challenges. Other platforms which include, prevention and Response to GBV, the child protection programme and the First Lady’s Beyond Zero Campaign on maternal health are used to highlight FGM issues.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), continues to prosecute several cases under the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act. The prosecution of these cases, though successful, has not been without challenges as sustaining prosecutions is dependent on the evidence and its availability. The practice in many cases occur in hard to reach areas with poor infrastructure and as a result, witnesses are unable to travel to courts, or lack the funds to do so. Sometimes witnesses are intimidated by relatives not to report cases. Taking into consideration these challenges, ODPP is using different strategies that ensure effective dispensation of justice to both the accused and the victim by using mobile courts in all the 47 counties nearer to the people. Although the mobile courts have also dealt with FGM cases in all the 12 FGM focus counties, there are no disaggregated data of how many FGM cases they heard and convicted. The Joint Programme has requested ODPP to consider collecting disaggregated data in future.

The Media continued to play an important role in highlighting FGM as an issue of national concern and an abuse of human rights. The community based radio stations stream programmes in focus Counties and provide an enabling platform for community dialogue on FGM. The various TV stations, as well as print media also educate the public about the importance of ending FGM. Media campaigns and reporting on FGM continue to increase in terms of quality and content. This year in particular, saw a marked increase in the quality of media coverage on FGM issues especially in print and TV documentaries. This is attributed to Joint Programme investment on capacity building of journalists since 2009.

As a result of sustained awareness creation/community dialogues on FGM, community members including boys, girls, men, women and youth are talking openly about FGM and have developed community based Action Plans to address FGM. The Action Plans consist of elaborate agreed activities to accelerate abandonment of FGM, strategies of engaging community members and County Government; and community referral pathways that link

3 Kenya Demographic Health Survey 20144 Ibid5 Ibid


to relevant Government bodies. The major objective of these community action plans is to ensure continued community ownership of the programme and Community based advocacy for budgetary allocations by the County Government. These action plans feed into the Sub County and County Action Plans that guide Anti-FGM interventions.

Figure 1: Map of Kenya showing UNFPA and UNICEF FGM Focus Counties

Strategic approach to the acceleration of FGM/C elimination in the country

Kenya has used a number of strategic approaches to move forward the priorities and agendas of accelerating abandonment of FGM at national, county and community levels. These include:

i. Multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach to programming: The Joint Programme has brought together diverse institutions that provide different services including psychosocial support, Education, legal aid and counseling and temporary shelters as measures of ensuring the safety and security to girls and their families at risk or affected by FGM. Mapping these service providers has reduced duplication of interventions, built comparative synergies and link services from the different sectors (Health, Safety and Security, Social, Judicial, Psychosocial support and Education). In the focus counties, services are available in an integrated manner with coordination from the child protection network, Gender Working groups or FGM networks. This has enhanced coordination of various relevant stakeholders.


ii. National and County Government Led Approach for Service Delivery: The Joint Programme has continued to build the capacity of the Anti-FGM Board. The Board has engaged with other relevant line ministries and independent bodies to deliver an integrated and government led leadership, provide strategic direction and service delivery. Joint monitoring of the programme with government was conducted in focus counties to assess the progress in implementation of the Joint Programme. Findings and recommendations were shared with the implementing partners.

iii. Human Rights Based Approach to Programming: The Joint Programme has mainstreamed human rights into activities and programmes. The aim is to contribute to the realization of human rights such as right to life, health, and education, right to privacy and right to make decisions.

iv. Increasing community demand for Mentorship Programs for boys as well as girls and Alternative Rites of Passage for girls: Mentoring programmes is divided into group or individualized sessions depending on the unique needs of boys and girls. The programme absorbs girls and boys from 6 to 17 years who are mentored by teachers and other persons identified as community role models by the Joint Programme on FGM. These programmes address the unique needs of boys and girls and contribute to positive outcomes. A structured guide and life skills manual developed by the implementing partners is used. Key components focus on character development, cognitive restructuring, spiritual development, life skills training, anger management, and employability skills. The programmes’ goal is to reduce the involvement of boys and girls in FGM. Girls identified to undergo Alternative Rites of Passage participate in child to child dialogue sessions, training or peer to peer support. This is carried out in about six months leading to the final ceremonies of the ARP in order to raise awareness among girls, boys and their parents/caregivers on the importance of the ARP.

v. Community Led Dialogue Sessions Approach: Community led dialogue sessions bring on board boys, girls, men and women of different ages for discussions on FGM that lead to joint collective decisions on the abandonment of the practice through ARP, public statements and community declarations.

vi. Data generation and utilization: The Joint Programme has continued to support data generation and utilization. UNFPA and UNICEF have commissioned two separate studies on FGM and Child Marriage in 9 counties. The UNFPA study has been finalized while UNICEF study is at data collection stage.

III. Progress by work plan output during the reporting Period

Outcome 1: Programme countries enact legal and policy frameworks for eliminating FGM which are appropriately resourced and implemented (in line with AU and UN Resolutions)

• The implementation of the Prohibition of FGM Act 2011 is on- going with leadership from the Anti-FGM Board, in collaboration with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), Anti FGM Prosecution Unit, the Judiciary and National Police Services. The Joint Programme supports capacity building of the Anti-FGM Board, the prosecutors and advocacy forums.

• As a result of advocacy at national and county levels by the development partners, Civil Society Organisations including Faith Based Organisation and Community Based Organisations, the Government continues to increase allocation of resources to the Anti-FGM Board. In 2016/17 financial year, the Board received US$ 910,891(KES 92 million) from (US$ 420,000 (KES 42 million) in 2014/15.


• Police officers rescue girls at risk of FGM and arrest FGM perpetrators, as a result of the capacity building and work with ODPP to arraign them in court. The police now work closely with the Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs, role models and champions who provide the information on girls at risk and the perpetrators.

• The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), continues to prosecute cases under the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 2011. Although successful, challenges remain, including witnesses not coming forward to courts largely due to hard to reach areas. This is being addressed through mobile courts.

• The Office of Director of Public Prosecution developed a draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on prosecution of FGM. The purpose of the SOP is to inform and assist all Public Prosecutors in the investigations, reporting and prosecution of offences of FGM. The SOP has been jointly produced in consultation with key stakeholders. This SOP on Prosecution of FGM will be finalized early 2017.

OP 1.1: Policy makers mainstream the commitment to end FGM/C throughout Government

The Joint Programme is supporting the policy makers in mainstreaming the commitment to end FGM/C at two levels:

National Government: The line ministries have mainstreamed FGM issues in the Education, Health, culture, Safety and Security and; legal sectors. This has been done through platforms that include National Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy 2015, A Policy Framework for Education 2013 and National Plan of Action for Children in Kenya 2015-2022. These policies and action plans bring on board Government Ministries and Departments to systematically and coherently function together in preventing, responding to FGM and strengthening systems, mechanisms and structures.

Photo 2: Marakwet Deputy County Commissioner Moses Lilal briefs journalists on the progress of the county anti-FGM activities


County Governments: The County integrated development Plans (CIDPs) of 2013-2017 for the focus counties have captured FGM as a major development challenge, especially to girl-child education and empowerment. Some of the strategies to address FGM include awareness by educating the communities and promoting Alternative Rites of Passage. In some counties, the county governments work closely with implementing partners and monitor programme activities together.

A meeting was held with 29 County First Ladies, Directors of Gender and Children Departments to explore joint modalities of engaging County First Ladies on Child Protection including FGM issues and advocacy at the county level as well as to advocate for resource allocation to support anti-FGM and child protection initiatives by the County Governments. Action points agreed on during the meeting include, continued capacity building and awareness raising of major stakeholders involved in the programme, ensure the voices of young boys and girls and even the grandparents are heard in order to change the norms, County First ladies to boycott FGM ceremonies to discourage the practice and advocate for Alternative Rites of Passage for girls.

The Joint programme supports the Bi-annual consultative forums with the members of county assembly and county executive committees to discuss county specific FGM and child protection issues. This is geared to influencing them to prioritize FGM as a county barrier to development and, allocate and utilize resources for FGM Programming.

Members of the County assemblies especially in Garissa and West Pokot have participated in village forums including, dialogue sessions and public gatherings especially during the Zero Tolerance Day to end FGM and the Day of African Child. As a result of the Joint Programme, West Pokot have allocated Ksh.16 million in 2016/2017 budget for FGM programme specifically working with Council of Elders in accelerating abandonment of FGM. This is a breakthrough as FGM issue is not a devolved function in Kenya.

Following a partnership established between UNICEF and the Council of Governors in 2016, UNICEF child protection and the County First Ladies Association initiated a first collaboration by conducting a one day workshop on child protection. Over 80 persons participated with 29 County First Ladies being represented and pledging their support to advocate and campaign against child abuse and exploitation in their respective counties.

Photo 3: Anti-FGM Stakeholders in planning and review meeting, Nov. 2016 | Photo Credit Daisy 2016


As a result of mainstreaming of FGM issues into the National and County Governments, fifteen (15) public statements were made by the national, county government officials and community and religious leaders. The President of Kenya H.E Uhuru Kenyatta6 and First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta7 are leading in making public statements that generate discussions in communities practising FGM.

OP 1.2: Policy makers increasingly utilize disaggregated data and best practices to enforce law and implement evidence based programmes to progressively eliminate FGM/C

As referenced earlier, the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2014 provides data on FGM, indicating the national FGM prevalence was at 21% in 2014 from 27% in 2008/9. It also highlights data for some communities that are above the national prevalence, these include Somali 94%, Samburu 86%, Kisii 84%, and Maasai 78% etc. The data has been utilized by the policy makers at the national and county governments as well as civil society for awareness raising activities, continued and sustained community based programming, advocacy for resource allocation and utilization by the county governments.

At the Joint Programme level, FGM baseline survey was conducted in 5 counties (Narok, Marakwet, West Pokot, Baringo and Samburu) in 2015/2016. The study showed that the decision to circumcise girls was influenced by fathers at 45.8% and 36.2% by the girl, grandmother at 9% and the mother-in-law at 5.5%. This new data has led to a change in programme strategy in addressing FGM interventions in these counties. The new shift in strategy will focus more on boys, girls, men and fathers. The findings were also shared with Government officials, implementing partner managers so as to utilize in re-designing respective programmes to accelerate abandonment of FGM.

There is another baseline survey on FGM and Child Marriage currently being conducted in five counties (Garissa, Wajir, West Pokot, Marsabit and Kajiado). This baseline survey looks at cross border issues and lower age sets of 10-17 years and the social norms change. The pilot testing of the study has been completed awaiting the final data collection.

The Joint Programme continued to work with security teams at the county level, having agreed with them that Joint Action Plans for prevention and response to FGM is the best way to enforce the Prohibition of FGM Act and hold them accountable. Agreed action plans with the security teams include the prior mapping and documenting of FGM practitioners and traditional men who support the FGM practice as well as apprehending suspected perpetrators in advance. These has been proven to be an effective way of deterring any incidents of FGM, monitoring as well as prevention measures.

The Joint Programme supported training for security officials from Kuria East and West Sub-Counties. This training was purposely scheduled in October and November 2016 during the cutting season of the three Kuria communities (Bukira clan in Kuria West Sub-County, Nyabasi and Bwirege clans in Kuria East Sub-County). The security officials and the community change agents (FGM role models and champions) were on high alert and closely monitored the situation and reported any suspicion or cases to the relevant law enforcement agencies.

OP 1.3: Program managers and experts have capacity to implement the national and decentralized policies to end FGM/C in a coordinated way

A total of 164 government officials including managers from Implementing Partners (77 female and 87 male) from implementing partners from the focus counties,8 were trained in 2016 on community mobilization, outreach

6 http://www.president.go.ke/2016/08/28/were-making-progress-in-gender-equity-president-kenyatta-says/ 7 http://www.president.go.ke/2016/03/08/speech-by-the-first-lady-of-kenya-h-e-margaret-kenyatta-during-the-international-womens-day-celebrations-at-kicc-nairobi-on-8th-march-2016/... http://www.hivisasa.com/nyamira/health/99738/ http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/08/04/margaret-kenyatta-praises-low-hiv-infection-rates-in-tana-river-county_c1398524/8 Wajir, Garissa, Tana River, West Pokot, Samburu, Marsabit, Migori and Kisii


programming, programme evidence generation and the National Policy on the Abandonment of FGM. The Managers came up with integrated referral pathway, with structured relevant contacts and services provided. The Implementing partners demonstrated a clear understanding of the implementation of the prohibition of the FGM Act and the National Policy on the Abandonment of FGM.

The Joint Programme on FGM works closely with Child Protection, Gender working groups and FGM networks in 12 Counties. In Migori County, an elaborate County Gender Strategic Plan was developed and included FGM issues. These structures have the capacity to coordinate and implement the Prohibition of the FGM Act and the National Policy on the Abandonment of FGM. They also act as a platform to advance abandonment of FGM since it provides a venue for meetings to discuss FGM issues with stakeholders.

In 2016, 296 FGM network members (170 male and 126 female) from the focus counties participated in the quarterly meetings. During the meetings, the members shared experiences, discussed challenges and appropriate solutions. Currently, the members are reviewing community action plans to address FGM. Networks are used as vehicles to lobby duty bearers at community level to provide protection to girls. During the meetings, the members of the networks share their experiences and challenges and referral mechanism in order to improve implementation of the programme. Through the forums, members identify trends and document some cases in their respective counties. They also discuss County and Sub County Action Plans to accelerate abandonment. These Action Plans emanate from the community through community dialogue sessions.

Outcome 2: Service providers provide timely, appropriate and quality services to girls and women at risk of or having experienced FGM in select districts in programme Counties.

The Joint Programme on FGM has comparative advantage of rallying and pulling together relevant and diverse multi-sectoral services providers. The Programme interventions services include: psychosocial support, legal aid counseling, mediation, reconciliation and reintegration of 600 girls back to their families and communities; while other services such as health, legal aid, rescue, safe temporary spaces and centres have been provided by the Government of Kenya including County Health Services, Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, Ministry of Education, Police and partners including FIDA and Faith Based Organization.

Photo 4: West Pokot FGM Network in discussion


OP 2.1: Service providers have the capacity to provide FGM/C-related services

The Joint Programme continued to strengthen the capacity of service providers9 in twelve counties. A Total of 713 male and 551 female service providers who also double as duty bearers10 were trained on FGM issues, reporting and the identified referral mechanisms. These trainings provided a platform for sharing information and knowledge; and boosted the multi-sectoral interventions for November to December as most communities were preparing for FGM.

As a result of sustained trainings, service providers not only demonstrated the capacity to provide FGM related services but also used linkages and referred girls at risk for services. For example Kuria West, the Kenya Police arrested 12 persons for being linked to aiding Female Genital Mutilation11 .Among those arrested were five female circumcisers who were on FGM commissioning ceremony at Kamange village in Bukira central location. The young girl who was to officially open the FGM season was rescued by the police and was taken to Komotobo children’s home where is undergoing psychosocial support from Adventist Development and Relief Agency Kenya (ADRA).

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, has pursued alleged perpetrators in collaboration with Police in Kuria. The perpetrators are in remand and have been arraigned in Kehancha law court inspite of their threats. This inter-agency collaboration has saved 6,000 girls (from the Bukira clan in Kuria West Sub-County, Nyabasi and Bwirege clan in Kuria East Sub-County) and has ensured that no girl has undergone FGM in 2016.

In 2016, the Joint Programme supported the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution to train 30 prosecutors from focus counties. They were equipped with skills for preparing and handling child witnesses in respect to FGM cases. These skills will also translate to the management of child witnesses in any other case.

As result of the training and continuous engagement of the health workers, the health care service providers have started a WhatsApp group to discuss the issues of FGM, addressing medicalization of FGM and supporting each other or comparing the notes and experiences as key expert witness that reported girl/s who had undergone FGM.

In Baringo, chiefs who were trained on prevention and response to all types of violence, reported cases of violations including defilement where a perpetrator was jailed for 10 years and another got 15 years for marrying off girls after the FGM. In Narok, a chief recued a girl married after the FGM and she has been enrolled back to school.

Trained relevant government officials, CSO managers including FBOs and CBOs, on Evidence based Programming spearhead evidence based programming and scale up acceleration on Abandonment of FGM. In 2016, 164 government officials including managers from Implementing Partners (77 female and 87 male) were trained on FGM issues.

As a result of training of the chiefs, they have included FGM issues during their barazas (meetings). In Baringo, the County Government has also acknowledged the importance of educating the public on FGM and set up three resource centres so that community members can research and learn about FGM, GBV and other development issues.

9 The Health workers, Police, Chiefs, Teachers,10 Police office, County Security team, health workers, Nyumba Kumi, Chief ,Sub Chief,11 https://www.google.com/#q=kuria+west+arrest+Fgm+perpertrators/


OP 2.2: Service delivery points have the capacity to provide FGM/C related services

Joint Programme work has continued to strengthen systems that deliver services to girls at risk of FGM. These include prevention services and response services that take care of the health and psychological needs of girls. In the focus counties, a simple informal mapping of relevant services including legal aid, psychosocial support, education and health services was conducted by the implementing partners under the support of Technical Working Groups/networks on Child Protection, Gender or FGM s. This has assessed the capacity of delivery, reach and scope of services in the informal and formal sectors and development or reviewing of specific protocols to address health, psychological, social and legal consequences of FGM.

The outcome of the above exercise has shown that there are FGM related services existing and are being provided by schools, health facilities, legal aid clinics, police stations and FGM Unit/Prosecution offices within the Joint Programme on FGM areas and the needs of girl at risk of or affected by FGM are addressed in a gender-responsiveness manner. These service delivery points are within government systems, Civil Society Organizations including Faith Based Organizations (FBOs).

Services are multi-sectoral in nature and are provided by Joint Programme Implementing and strategic partners that include:

1. Schools - They provide a protective environment for girls, education and knowledge on FGM. The Joint Programme has recognized the important role teachers play as drivers of key information delivery to their pupils and students in primary and secondary schools. A total of 315 teachers12 (160 male and 155 female) who act as patrons and matrons for 60 health/child protection clubs have been trained on FGMs’ psychological and health consequences as well as rights violations related to the practice. During the reporting period in 10 incidents, teachers acted as whistle blowers and alerted girls who were at risk of or affected by FGM by reporting and referring cases to relevant authorities for action and response. These teachers were critical in training 3,900 (1950 boys and 1950 girls) school going children on FGM issues, reporting and referral that links girls at risk of or affected by FGM to immediate and relevant law enforcement officers13 for response and action. All the 3,900 children reached were tasked to at least administer each one of them to peer-to-peer discussion on FGM within schools and out of school children translating to 7,800 children. In Maeta Primary School in Kuria East, Migori County, 20 girls who completed primary school are now in secondary schools. Currently in the same school, 54 girls, 6 to 14 years of age have not undergone FGM. All this has been achieved through the support of the teachers and the matron. One of the female teachers aged 29 years escaped FGM and underwent Alternative Rites of Passage in 2004. She is currently a role model for many girls in the school and in her community. The boys also support the girls and are change agents. Victoria Primary School, in West Pokot are providing a safe temporary boarding shelter for girls due to insecurity, long distances to school and to avoid pressure from some community members to have girls undergo FGM as well as child marriage.

12 Wajir, Garissa, West Pokot, Samburu, Kisii, Migori, Marsabit, Kajiado and Tana River.13 E.g. Children Officer, Police Officer, Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs


In 2016, the Joint Programme partnered with Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MOEST) in the Kenya National Music Festival to raise awareness on violence against children. The topic “No violence against children is justifiable – all violence against children can be prevented” was jointly selected as one of the themes to raise awareness on violence against children. 400 Teachers and adjudicators (170 female and 230 male) were trained, and children and young people were encouraged to develop messages on ending harmful practices through songs, plays, poems or dances. About1.5 million children who participated directly were sensitised and about nine million children and young people indirectly participated and benefited from the messages. The Joint Programme will continue to engage 60 schools14 at the county level15 to undertake music and drama competitions. Health clubs also use drama and songs on the consequences of the FGM/C as well as human rights violations. The catchy words they use are “Spare me the cut, my body should be respected, care for me and support my health and my body is the temple of God, educate us, and protect us from poverty”. Progress has also been made in integrating prevention activities including imparting knowledge, information and awareness on female genital mutilation into national school curricula which is in development stage. Educational activities and community dialogues create non-threatening space where people re-evaluate their own beliefs and values regarding FGM.

2. Health facilities: The County level hospitals have the capacity to provide treatment for complications due to FGM. However, at community level where these services may not be available, the Joint Programme Implementing Partners refer FGM cases to community health workers. The programme does not cover the cost of such medical interventions, but other partners in the areas provide support.

3. LegalAid Clinics and FGM Unit/Prosecution offices: The Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) have continued to provide free legal aid, legal education, referrals to other social assistance in focus counties. These two organizations have supported witness protection victim, briefing services in courts and increased media highlight on cases of FGM in Kenya. As a result of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) deploying 21 prosecution counsels in focus counties, prosecution of FGM cases is on-going and work closely with communities through mobile courts.

14 Each school has an enrolment rate of between 250 and 500.15 Wajir, Garissa, West Pokot, Samburu, Kajiado, Marsabit, Migori, Kisii,

Photo 5: Some of the rescued school girls rescued from child marriage by World Vision, in conjunction with Komesi Women’s Group in West Pokot


4. Temporary Rescue Centres: The Joint Programme does not advocate nor promote institutionalization of children. However rescue centers are used as a last resort. ADRA Kenya in collaboration with Sub-County Children’s Officers in Kuria East and West Sub-Counties developed an eligibility criteria for admission of girls into holiday rescue centres in December, 2016 provided by the Maranatha Church Mission (Komotobo and Komotutura) to avoid girls being taken advantage of by brief case organizations. Komotobo rescue centre admitted 4116 girls who were rescued by police. Other safe spaces include dormitories built in schools for purposes of protecting the girls. World Vision has built several dormitories in schools within the focus counties using funding from other sources. The Joint Programme supports the progamme for the girls in these safe spaces.

Outcome 3: A majority of individuals, families and communities in programme areas accept the norm of eliminating FGM/C

OP 3.1: Individuals, families and communities in programme areas are increasingly educated about the harms and norms related to FGM/C and alternatives of the practice. Improve implementation and coordination hence improve targeted intervention.

In 2016, 1,200 men, 1,225 women, 647 boys and 588 girls in schools and out of school youth (male 1,305 and female 1,007) were trained on psychological support, health consequences of FGM as well as rights violations of the practice in focus counties17. This provided an entry point to the community in discussing openly the issues of FGM. After the training, each participant sensitized three more persons and brought them to the community dialogues on FGM.

In the focus counties, the trained participants also act as community reference and are role models/champions. As a result of the above, youth and women networks have been established that use WhatsApp innovation and social gatherings (weddings and water points) as platforms for sharing and disseminating key FGM messages.

16 http://www.hivisasa.com/national/news/18127317 Samburu, Kajiado, Marsabit, West Pokot, Tana River, Wajir, Garissa, Kisii and Migori Counties.

Photo 6: Youth in Garsen in FGM training, and an Assistant Chief addressing community members in Garissa County


Community dialogues on FGM have been sustained throughout the programme. Culture sensitive and gender responsive approaches are used, where men, women, boys, girls and youth are not allowed to sit together and discuss issues that are considered taboo in some communities.

Separate gendered disaggregated community discussions on FGM took centre-stage for six months until the community members participating in the dialogue sessions on FGM were free to openly express their opinion and ready to have intergenerational dialogue sessions on FGM. A total of 4,374 men, 5,400 women, youth18 (male 3,454 and female 4,635, girls 4,139 and 3,658 boys were reached through dialogue sessions).

CommunitydialoguesessionsonFGMfinallyresultedto:1. Community Action Plans to accelerate abandonment of FGM were developed. These simple community

specific action plan are geared to guide the Sub-County and County level action plans that feed into the County Governments Integrated Developments Plans which are currently under review.

2. Community members participating in community dialogue sessions on FGM have contributed to the identification of girls for Alternative Rites of Passage in focus communities19 with 7,297 persons having participated (3,733 girls, 383 boys, 4,500 parents).

3. During the Alternative Rites of passage in Kajiado and West Pokot, 189 male Council of Elders publicly declared Abandonment of FGM. This was a cultural oath and allegiance against FGM by the elders that if any one defied their resolution that meant that person would be ostracized and bad things were to follow.

18 Youth are aged from 18 years to 35 years19 Pokot, Kuria, Kisii, Maasai, Samburu and Narok

Photo 7: Girls from Sook Division in West Pokot. | Photo Credit: Phiona /World Vision Kenya 2016


Community conversations/dialogue continued and these gave community members a neutral platform to discuss harmful practices. Through dialogue the community members, particularly women, have had their fears addressed on acceptability of their daughters in the community. Community conversation/dialogue, are important in ensuring communities have collective responsibility in abandoning harmful cultural practices including early, forced and child marriages. In order to prepare communities for public declaration, 500 clan/age set leaders who are key decision makers were also mapped out in each community including their respective roles. It is expected the leaders will influence and prepare their community members for public declarations in focus counties20.

20 West Pokot, Samburu, Elgeyo Marakwet and Narok

Photo 8: Elders from a village in West Pokot discuss community actions after a community dialogue organised by World Vision.

Photo 9: Council of Elders declaring abandonment of FGM | Photo Credit: Douglas/UNFPA 2016

Photo 10: Ex-circumcisers declare abandonment of FGM in West Pokot County. | Photo Credit: Douglas/UNFPA 2016


World Vision has continued to conduct life skills training which has led to girls becoming role models. During this period, 3000 girls and boys in five counties are under the World Vision Mentorship program. The mentorship program uses a combination of participatory learning experiences that aims to develop knowledge, attitudes and especially skills needed to take positive actions on harmful cultural practices. World vision partnered with the teachers, nurses, role models, women leaders and professionals in the 5 counties to train the girls and boys. The girls are faced by harmful practices like FGM, and child marriages while boys undergo Moranism which denies them the opportunity to grow and achieve their full potential. The children were also given career talks to guide them in their future development.

Photo 11: Women in Elgeyo Marakwet in discussion on the effects of FGM. | Photo credit: Anti-FGM Board

Photo 12: Area Officer Commanding Police Division facilitating joint action plan on FGM for the security team. | Photo Credit: Mary Kwamboka/ADRA Kenya.


Sixty (60) women21 mostly Traditional Birth Attendants who double up as circumcisers were trained on the consequences of FGM. They have been identified by community members during community dialogue sessions on FGM. Currently they are volunteer community mobilisers during community dialogues on FGM and champions of the abandonment of FGM.

The Joint Programme has also worked with community role models, change agents and school management; and has trained 600 out of school children (300 boys and 300 girls) on FGM issues in Tana River. This was strategic as the Kenya Demographic Health Survey indicate that the individuals with lower education are more prone to FGM than those with higher education. Around 150 children (90 boys and 60 girls) managed to go back to school through encouragement, counseling and motivation of their parents. These children now can get education and easily access FGM information and knowledge from their peers and teachers.

Youth (morans) are critical partners in accelerating abandonment of FGM as change agents. They are slowly influencing communities to accept marrying uncircumcised girls but should be careful not to discriminate girls and women who have undergone FGM. In many instances, it has been noted the boys are defending their young siblings against FGM.

OP 3.2: Individuals, families and communities are increasingly mobilizing collectively to abandon FGM/C

The Joint Programme has supported two exchange programmes on community-to-community outreach events. In Tana River (Orma and Wardei communities) and for Samburu and Masaai communities. Both events were attended by 210 community members (160 male and 50 female). During the visits, the communities shared their experiences and participated in ARP, community and morans declarations including elders and circumcisers taking oath of abandoning FGM in Kajiado.

21 Wajir, Garissa, Tana River, Samburu, West Pokot, Marsabit, Kajiado, Kisii and Migori

Photo 13: Former FGM practitioners trained on the consequences of FGM.

Photo 14: Some Samburu Morans who support the programme. | Photo Credit: Jessica/DFID, 2016.


Community based radio stations continued to pass key messages on FGM in focus Counties 22. The messages were initiated through community dialogue sessions on FGM with technical drafting from communication and programme experts by the Joint programme and the implementing partners. Also talk shows using local languages were organized.

The Joint Programme on FGM continued to partner with religious bodies and leaders to demystify FGM by practicing communities and myths surrounding FGM. A total of 340 men and 101 women were trained on FGM, the psychological, health consequences of FGM as well as rights violations of the practice. In the process of the training new set of religious leaders supporting abandonment of FGM have been identified and utilized during community dialogue sessions and FGM outreaches.

Out of the above trained religious leaders, World Vision Kenya has trained 35 religious leaders as ToT’s using Channels of Hope Model/Child protection model. Channels of Hope for Child Protection (CoH CP) is a program methodology that motivates and builds capacity in faith communities to address violence against children including various forms of abuse, neglect and exploitation. It equips them with factually, correct information and insight, and guides them to be powerful change agents. CoH CP builds on the desire of faith leaders. The trained TOT have a mandate to facilitate COH engagement in respective churches. 3,690 community leaders have been reached through this platform.

The religious leaders have designed and currently guiding their congregations on accelerating abandonment of FGM in the churches and mosques through sermons. Working with religious leaders has helped to link protection of bodily integrity of girls with religion and clarify to communities that FGM is not a religious requirement and should not interfere with God’s creation. The Joint programme has also established community and religious leaders’ networks to advocate for the abandonment of all forms of FGM and to build a critical mass.

In Kuria, ADRA Kenya partnered with Seventh Day Adventist Church to sensitize 3,500 (1,750 boys and 1,750 girls) who regularly attend churches. Key messages were jointly developed and agreed the sermons will be sustained. This was deliberated to accelerate abandonment of FGM using multi-faceted approach.

236 Council of Elders (212 male and 24 female) were trained on FGM issues and were engaged in quarterly consultative meetings in Kuria West. As a result, there are girls who have not undergone FGM in the area. However, in Kuria East, most of the elders are still not convinced about FGM and didn’t commit. The Abagusii Council of elders are committed and they vowed to support in the community dialogues within their respective communities.

The Joint Programme supported community outreach and awareness raising sessions to mark the zero tolerance Day on FGM and Universal Day of the Girl Child. A total of 4,500 persons (1,914 male and 2,386 female), the children and community expressed FGM issues using songs, dances and speeches.

The Joint Programme supported “Run to end FGM” in West Pokot and Kakuma, a campaign against FGM during the 16 days of activism. Other activities to mark the day in Kakuma included youth dialogue and sports.

22 Wajir, Garissa, Tana River, Samburu, West Pokot, Marsabit, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Narok, Kajiado and Tana River

Photo 15: Religious leaders during a dialogue session on FGM in Sankuri location in Garissa County. | Photo Credit: Maina/Womankind, 2016


IV. Partnerships and knowledge exchange at National and decentralized levels

During the reporting period, the Joint Programme disseminated the key findings of Kenya Demographic and Health Survey on FGM through County First Ladies and National Stakeholders on FGM in collaboration with Anti-FGM Board. WhatsApp platform has been started by youth and health workers to convey key messages on FGM to their peers and other community members, they also use Facebook and twitter to pass on messages

V. Regional Partnerships and knowledge exchange

The Joint Programme supported the 2016 East African Community (EAC) Gender Equality and Development Bill. The Gender Bill seeks to ensure that there is gender equality, protection and development in the community. A joint consultative Memo was presented by the Anti-FGM Board to the EAC advocating for integration of the Prohibition of FGM into the Gender Bill 2016 in order to promote regional cooperation in the prosecution of perpetrators of FGM and develop common measures, strategies and programmes for the effective implementation of the FGM. Once enacted, the regional Gender law is expected to enhance regional cooperation in efforts to prosecute perpetrators of FGM

Photo 16: UmulKheir girls presenting a poem “END FGM” message during the Zero tolerance day in Sankuri. |Photo Credit: Maina/Womankind, 2016.


VI. Publications and Programme Tools

• Samburu politicians shy away from anti-FGM war for fear of losing votes: Click below link http://www.nation.co.ke/counties/Samburu-politicians-dilemma-FGM-war/1107872-3414008-10ty59l/

• Rescued girls in West Pokot excel in examination despite FGM http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/03/07/rescued-girls-excel-in-examination-despite-fgm_c1307448

• Police rescue 40 girls in Kuria being ferried to Tanzania https://citizentv.co.ke/news/police-rescue-40-girls-being-ferried-to-tanzania-149434/#

• Five circumcisers arrested, 10-year old girl rescued in Kuria West http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/11/07/five-circumcisers-arrested-10-year-old-girl-rescued-in-kuria- west_c1451230

• School offers a break from tradition for Wajir’s child brides http://www.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/women/School-offers-a-break-from-tradition-for-Wajir-child brides/1950830-3414626-vxvtolz/index.html/

• War on FGM, a boon for girls. The STAR October 17th 2016 Female genital mutilation has a direct correlation to early marriages — two social evil practices that stalk our society despite the gains made in the recent past. http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/10/17/war-on-fgm-a-boon-for-girls_c1437754

• A Maasai worrior rallying men to fight female genital mutilation. PRI October 1st 2016 “While at the workshop we heard news that a girl who had gone through FGM was bleeding uncontrollably and was almost dying. This made me think — what if that was my daughter. This is when I decided I will not let my daughters go through FGM. I also decided that I would start a campaign to help my community to stop this act,” he says. https://www.pri.org/stories/2016-09-27/maasai-warrior-rallying-men-fight-female-genital-mutilation

• Twelve West Pokot girls who were rescued from early marriage after undergoing FGM excelled in the 2015 KCSE exam. They were among the top performers in the county. The girls sat the exam at St. Theresa’s Tartar Girls High School scored B+ and above. Priscilla Kamau thanked NGOs and Equity Bank for sponsoring the girls’ education. She said the girls will be anti-FGM ambassadors in their villages. “I’m optimistic these vices will be eradicated in our community in two years,” Kamau said. She urged parents to value girls’ education, as they have the same potential as boys to excel in national exams. “Let’s not bar our girls from accessing quality education. We should fully support them since they have the potential to rule this nation,” Kamau said. The national school had a mean score of 9.8. http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/ktnnews/video/watch/2000115910/-ktn-prime-stubborn-taboo-boy-who-is-ready-to-save-sister-from-undergoing-fgm-25th-october-2016

• A total of 44 Police Officers were trained in West Pokot and Marakwet counties on FGM issues. After the training, the police have arrested20 people, including the circumcisers, and arraigned them before court. The case was completed and determined and they were sentenced to 5 years each in jail. In Lomut West Pokot there is a cases before court of an elected female member of parliament challenging the arrest and charging of the circumcisers who were charged. She ferried the survivor to Nairobi and the case has proceeded. As the as a member of the County Assembly followed it up. This is a clear indication on how the political arm of the country is affecting campaigns against FGM. http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/03/07/rescued-girls-excel-in-examination-despite-fgm_c1307448


VII. Insights and lessons learned from 2016

• The Joint planning on community declarations and Alternative Rites of Passage by UNFPA and UNICEF has provided an opportunity for delivering as one, cost saving and improve quality programming for result and attention to details.

• Mobilizing and having a joint action plan with the security team, strategically to the period nearing the FGM season has proved to be effective and efficient in Kuria East and West where the estimated 6,000 girls who were planned to undergo the FGM in 2016 were totally prevented.

• Joint implementation (a multi-sectoral approach) of activities have a greater impact than the silo approach.

VIII. Challenges and Solutions in 2016

i. Due to remoteness of most areas. For example in Elgeyo Marakwet, girls are taken on top of hills to undergo FGM and when the police follow them, they roll the stones down to prevent them from climbing the hills. During the Joint Programme monitoring visit, the issue was discussed with the County Government to improve road network and work closely together with police and prosecutors to arrest the perpetrators.

ii. Law enforcement is a serious challenge for communities living along the Uganda and Tanzania Kenya border. In West Pokot, Kajiado and Kuria in Migori, girls are taken to Uganda and Tanzania to dodge the law and in some circumstances they ‘import’ circumcisers from across the border. To address the challenge, World Vision Kenya has engaged the ‘Nyumba Kumi’ leaders and the chiefs to identify the culprits.

iii. Delays in signing the Annual Workplan led to delays in implementation. In one case, the work plan was signed in September 2016 due to some policy changes from treasury and the lateness in signing, it was decided the work plan be deferred to 2017.

iv. Low turnout for community dialogue sessions during dry spells. In Marsabit and Samburu Counties there were low turnout during dry season as men and youth were not available to attend for community dialogue session. They went away to look for pasture living mothers and children behind.

Photo 17: Challenges include remoteness of the area and poor terrain. | Photo credit: Omondi, Anti-FGM Board


Almost four women in Kenya depending on traditional midwives during childbirth. One such midwife is Jennifer Kibor, a well-known midwife in the village of Mukutani in East Pokot. Of late, however, residents of this village in Baringo County have been looking at Jennifer with either admiration or fear due to her zeal in campaigning against the circumcision of girls.

“One day a young girl was brought to me for deliver, but however hard she tried, she was unable to push. After hours of trying we rushed her to hospital where the doctor operated on her, but threatened never to assist us again if we brought women who had been circumcised,” says Jennifer. The doctor informed her that due to the scarring caused by circumcision, the girl’s birth canal could not stretch enough.

Several years later, Jennifer was recruited by the World Vision office in Marigat as part of a sensitization seminar on the dangers of FGM. It was at this seminar that she made the connection between FGM and the many complications she had seen in her midwifery work. “I used to see various difficulties that women would go through when giving birth, but never knew what it was,” she says. Her decision to begin by insisting that her own daughters would not be circumcised was the first real hurdle in her anti-FGM advocacy.

I. Human Interest Stories

Story 1: Traditional midwife fights FGM to save mothers’ lives


Knowing that Jennifer would not allow their daughter to be circumcised, one day her husband asked the first daughter to travel to an aunt’s home, where a circumcision ceremony was to be held the following day. However the daughter informed Jennifer who told her not to leave the house.

On learning this Jennifer’s livid husband accused her of going against the Pokot culture. Life became unbearable in the house, as her husband would often beat and insult the children. Eventually Jennifer decided to leave and she has since struggled to raise and educate all her five children by herself.

“It has been tough, but I will never let my daughters go through the pain of FGM. In fact when my first girl was married, I warned my son–in-law against attempting to have her circumcised,” she says.

Jennifer is now known all over Mukutani Village. She says that she is fortunate to have the backing of the village chief, who is equally enthusiastic about enforcing the law against FGM. “It will take some time for people to accept my message, since there are those who accuse me of bringing the bad cultures of our neighbours who do not circumcise, while others tell me I should not discuss such matters among men old enough to be my father,” says Jennifer.


The animated debate on FGM among the gathering of Muslim Sheikhs in Garsen town in Tana River County is only rivalled by the searing midday sun outside the hall. The opposing views are presented animatedly, a sign of the divisive emotions that the subject arouses. “The fact that this discussion is taking place at all represents great progress,” says Daud Abdullahi, a Programme Officer at Womankind, a non-governmental organisation based in Garissa, North Eastern Kenya.

In a major religious and cultural shift, Muslim leaders in Tana River County have recently added in the agenda a regular session in the Mosque to interpret religious literature on female genital mutilation. While the majority condemn it as an antiquated practice that has no Islamic basis, others vehemently defend it as an obligation among the faithful. During the debate, Sheikh Dido Mtoro makes reference to a booklet as well as the Koran, arguing that both the life of the Prophet and numerous opinion by leading scholars do not support the argument that FGM is Islamic. “Nowhere is it mentioned that even the Prophet’s own daughter was cut,” argues Sheikh Mtoro.

Sheikh Mtoro is the chairman of the Coast Inter-Faith Council of Clerics and also Imam of Masjid Mihrab, the biggest mosque in Garsen Sub-County of Tana River. The Inter-Faith Council deals mainly with social matters such as child labour, gender violence and peaceful co-existence among the Pokomo and the Orma, the two main

Story 2: Islamic leaders at the forefront of accelerating abandonment of FGM

Sheikh Dido Mtoro explaining a point during the discussion with other sheikhs


ethnic communities in Tana River. Female genital mutilation is a recent agenda within the Council, which brings together religious leaders from different faiths. It is a subject that was included in the Council’s mandate following interventions by Womankind, a grass-roots organisation working in partnership with UNICEF to accelerate abandonment of FGM in Garissa, Wajir and Tana River Counties.

These are three regions whose population is mainly Muslim, with the Somali population occupying much of Garissa and Wajir. According to the 2014 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, Muslim women are more likely to have been circumcised than women from other religious groups in Kenya, while the Somali have the highest prevalence rate at 94 percent.

“Our anti-FGM campaign is delivered in a much broader context that covers human rights and religion as well as basic needs, especially for the girl child,” says Daud. Daud says that their focus on Muslim religious leaders is driven by the fact that Islamic teachings govern every aspect of a Muslim’s life. “The verdict of the Sheikhs on whether FGM is Islamic or not will determine whether the anti-FGM stands or falls,” he says. Sheikh Mtoro was one of the first leaders invited by Womankind to attend a bench-marking mission in Egypt and Sudan, where anti-FGM advocacy work has been going on for a while. From that mission, Sheikh Mtoro and the team were able to interact with top Muslim scholars and get some literature on the subject of Islam and FGM.

“The books have been very helpful because they have given us insights into other Islamic authorities apart from just the Koran, such as the Sunnah and teachings of scholars. Those visits gave us wider access to Islamic jurisprudence regarding FGM,” says Sheikh Mtoro. He says that their initial attempts to introduce the subject were not received very well, especially by the women who were uncomfortable about the idea of men discussing such issues openly. The fact that Womankind held various community dialogues and training sessions in the community where men and women sat together helped to make the subject less sensitive.

One of the strongest advocacy messages introduced by the campaign was the difference in delivery outcomes among the Orma compared with their Pokot neighbours. The latter do not practice FGM.

“We the Orma had noticed that there were more childbirth-related deaths among our women compared to the Pokomo. A Pokomo woman is able to deliver and go back to her chores within two days, while many of our women are debilitated for a long while before they can be active,” says the Sheikh. According to Daud, Womankind, considerable progress has been made around Garsen, but difficult terrain and low levels of education deep in Tana River County decelerate progress.

Sheikh Mtoro says that practices such as FGM that have persisted for so many years cannot be expected to die off instantly, therefore organisations such as Womankind and UNICEF should target more Sheikhs with anti-FGM advocacy training. “The more religious leaders we have who preach that FGM is not a religious requirement, the faster we will have adherents beginning to open their minds to change, he says. His own family is a living example. It is only after he was trained that his own two daughters were saved from FGM. “I have two daughters who have not undergone FGM. Unfortunately, my eldest daughter was circumcised long before I met with Womankind,” he says. The campaign by the Joint Programme on FGM in Kenya is based on the confidence that once a united front among influential religious leaders is presented in the Anti-FGM campaign, regions where the practice is prevalent will begin to see sustainable change.


Additional Information

Opportunities of the Joint Programme on FGM

1. The programme takes advantage of the administrative units within the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government working in the programme areas. The administrative units includes the Deputy County Commissioners (DCC), Assistant County Commissioners (ACC), Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD), Officer Commanding Station, Chiefs (OCS) and Assistant Chiefs. These are Government’s structures that are critical for the implementation of the Prohibition of FGM Act 2011 as they are legally recognised. More so, Chiefs and their Assistant Chiefs are respected in their communities and serve as the entry point to the community and play a critical role mobilizing community members in accelerating on the abandonment of FGM/C.

2. The Area Advisory Committee for Children Services, FGM networks, Child Protection and Gender Working Groups critical to achieving results. These structures provide a planning and direction in area of accelerating the abandonment of FGM.

3. The programme has a good working relationship with Education stakeholders and schools. The School Health Clubs are the main structure that conduct child to child dialogue on FGM and come up with action points that include peer to peer dialogues or inter-school dialogues. These are critical in this programme as it provide children crucial information and knowledge on FGM.

4. The programme is creating a comprehensive mass mobilisation through community members that is intentionally geared towards dialogue on the abandonment of FGM.

5. Working with organizations like world Vision, ADRA Kenya and Womankind Kenya who work in hard to reach areas and helps the Joint programme to reach marginalized areas.



Documents

Joint Programme on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting ... Joint Programme on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Annual Report 2016 3 II. Background on Joint Programme efforts in Kenya