Murang’a Women Up in Arms over Sects Forcing Wives to Undergo Circumcision

Murang’a Women Up in Arms over Sects Forcing Wives to Undergo Circumcision

A group of women in Murang’a County has raised alarm over the growing cases of married women being forced to undergo circumcision.

Murang’a Women Council on Monday petitioned the government to protect women in the region following threats of traditional groups advocating for female genital mutilation (FGM).

Mercy Kimwe, a former Murang’a Municipality Mayor, urged both county and national government to move with speed and tame the retrogressive behavior that has undermined the integrity of young mothers.

The group says it has organized a series of meetings in Murang’a County, particularly in Gathige and Kandara areas to sensitize the community against clitoridectomy. 

The group further called upon Chief Justice Martha Koome and Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to support the initiative.

“We shall have to confront the issues to ensure the dignity of women will not be undermined by rogue groups,” said Kimwe.

Cases of women being forced to undergo the cut have been on the rise in Central Kenya in the recent past.

Last week, 30-year-old Hellen Wangui from Kandara narrated how her husband colluded with his ‘friends’ to circumcise her by force.

Wangui said her husband of 12 years joined a secret Kikuyu sect a few months ago and asked to perform a ritual where he slaughtered a sheep in the company of other members, after which he demanded that she and her two young daughters undergo female circumcision as the faith does not allow men to live with uncircumcised women in the same house.

Wangui declined his demands and reported the matter to the area chief, who dismissed her plea.

Her husband ambushed her on the night of June 9th in the company of 30 other men where they stripped her naked and cut off her private parts in the cruelest way.

“My husband forced me to open the door for him. He came with other men who caught me by the neck, stripped me then began pricking me with needles on my private parts. They used their nails, a knife to cut off my private parts,” Wangui recounted.

“They said they want to circumcise me so that I can become a ‘complete woman’ as per their practices.”

The mother of two sought treatment at Murang’a Level 5 Hospital after sustaining serious injuries on her genitals.

 

Comments

Maxiley (not verified)     Tue, 07/06/2021 @ 03:23am

Fight fire with fire. Clitoridectomy is akin to removing partial,or full head of the penis. Why do men want to mess with female private parts. Its theirs.You mind your own "thing".To make matters worse, these women are forced to under go the excision. First of all,these men are ignorant of the functioning of the female body. Secondly,it serves no purpose but torture.
Thirdly how can you take off some"vital" parts of awoman and say you are making her whole-an oxymoron here...
When you flagrantly disregard,and disobey the law of the land you live in,you are behaving like you are above the law,and no Kenyan is.FGM is a crime.
How long has this been going on? Its almost like there is a sudden explosion of this repulsive behavior. Is this part of the fall out from Covid19 restriction rendering men idle? Or just manifestation of increase in mental health issues ?
If the law is being ignored,then this women should fight back.You cut some 'heads' and trust we,men will shape up.Much like you did by disconnecting some transformers. Remember men were scared,and even had artisans make iron clad underwears.
Yes we care, we do not want Kenya to be a laughing stock of the modern world with these retrogressive cultural practices.My two cents.

Nyoman wa Chege (not verified)     Tue, 07/06/2021 @ 10:14am

In reply to by Maxiley (not verified)

I urge the women to start removing the men’s penis with machetes! That sect will die out very quickly!

And when I speak, you know we will do it! Don’t mess with our Pussy!

Morris Menye (not verified)     Tue, 07/06/2021 @ 08:22am

Tha One a.k.a,Mercy Kimwe seems to be begging for protection from the so-called govt.She does that because the circumcised woman,Wangui had reported his attackers to the so-called chief who told her to cooperate with the circumcisers.She should instead organize a bloody revenge mission as it is the only solution to this matter.

Mercy (not verified)     Tue, 07/06/2021 @ 10:19am

In reply to by Morris Menye (not verified)

Her husband should be already dead by now! That is the target man to start with. Then they need to circumcise the area Chief all over again without water with a very brunt panga. Let the chief cooperate with the demands of these women! The chief is the problem and he is the one who personally circumcised Wangui! The rule of law does not exist in Kenya and so every body should take arms to protect themselves!

Wamaithi (not verified)     Tue, 07/06/2021 @ 10:07am

In reply to by ROTTEN (not verified)

Stop misquoting things to keep women oppressed! I wish these women could cut of your small wiwi and throw it to the hyenas for insulting them! You just don’t get @ no name rotten to the core! Don’t cross me you idiot!

Mburu (not verified)     Tue, 07/06/2021 @ 10:11am

Can the good women be armed with riffles and bullets to kill all the members of this evil sect - I mean both males and females! That is the only way to eliminate them. You need to target their main leaders first! If you need help please know I’m on standby to assist!

We are tired of these sects being sponsored by DP Ruto to eliminate out votes! We will fight back and no government will stop us because the same government is sleeping on the wheel!

Milley (not verified)     Wed, 07/07/2021 @ 01:30pm

In reply to by Mburu (not verified)

I fully support this idea of arming these tough looking ladies! They can clean up the place better that the male Army or the cops! Let’s do it!

Where is the area MP in Kandara? Alice Wahome? This woman no here is useless. All she knows is how to follow DP Ruto like a little dog! She needs to be curcumcused with the rogue men! She is bure kabisa and no wonder these women are suffering!

Settled Nomad (not verified)     Tue, 07/06/2021 @ 10:17am

Kandara is a backward, far-flung part of Murang'a. It has many backward practices, not just FGM, which are not in the rest of Murang'a. Journalists should be distinguishing stories from Kandara from the rest of Murang'a, as they do not represent the rest of the County.

Imara Daima (not verified)     Tue, 07/06/2021 @ 11:06am

Jamani! Ndugu zangu "Ciana cia Mumbi" Imekuwaje, sasa kuna kikundi kipya kinachosisitiza akina mama wapate tohara kama ilivyokuwa mila za Agikuyu miaka mingi iliyopita?

Je, kikundi hiki kitasisitiza pia wanawake na wanaume wapasuliwe masikio yao kama ilivyokuwa mila za Agikuyu hapo zamani?

Imara Daima (not verified)     Tue, 07/06/2021 @ 11:19am

@ Rotten:
Umesema, "Circumcision is good. In the bible. god got abraham CIRCUMCIZED." Imani (faith) ni mojawapo ya mila za watu. Mungu hashughulikii hata kidogo maisha, mila, hostoria ya binadamu. Kazi yake ilimalizika kabisa alipotupatia akili. Usipotumia akili yako, mtu mwingine ataitutumia kwa manufaa yake mwenyewe. Imani ya Wayahudi ni sehemu mojawapo ya mila zao. Kwa hiyo, kusoma bibilia au koran na wewe si Mwarabu au Myahudi inaonyeshana wazi ya kwamba, akili yako imeshaibiwa na watu wengine wasio wa asili yako.

Katika dunia, ni watu wachache sana ambao hutahiri wanaume. Wayahudi na Waarabu, Waislamu na waBantu wachache hufanya hivyo. Lakini nchi ya Ujapani, Uchina, India, Urusi, Europa, Marekani yote haitahiri wanaume.

Kwa hiyo Ndugu "Rotten" wewe na wenzako wachache tu duniani ndio hutahiri wanaume.

Ndugu zetu WaLuo zamani walikuwa wakitahiriwa kwa kutoa meno sita. Sasa wameshaacha. Naiomba serikali imshike mtu aliyemtahiri mke wake na binti zake kama somo kubwa kwa watu wanaoendeleza na kutukuza mila ambazo wakati wake umeshamalizika.

Pole sana Dada Wangui kwa mabaya yaliyokupata ulipotahiriwa na adui-mume wako bila wewe kukubali.

Brian (not verified)     Tue, 07/06/2021 @ 05:19pm

All circumcision damages the sexual organs and sexual function permanently. For both men and women. It’s insanity and only uneducated stupid people try to justify it. You are not a whole man or whole woman if you are missing parts. Complete idiots continue this practice.

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