Lower bride price for circumcised ladies to end vice

Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner Beverly Opwora has appealed to the Ameru Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders to come up with community laws including lowering bride price for circumcised women to discourage the vice.

Speaking when she led the elders in planting trees at their offices in Chuka town recently, Ms Opwora said such laws will help discourage Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) which is deep-rooted in some parts of the county.

“As you come up with a dowry law that will determine the bride price in the Ameru region, make sure the circumcised ones fetch lower prices,” said Ms Opwora.

Pandemic period

She noted that FGM is a big problem and is even becoming a security concern in the region.

The administrator said girls as young as 10 years are not being spared the ‘cut’ in some parts of Tharaka North, Tharaka South and Igambang’ombe sub-counties during the Covid-19 pandemic period when most of them are at home.

Ms Opwora expressed her worry that the cases are likely to increase during the December festive season and urged chiefs and the Nyumba Kumi to be extra vigilant.

Alternative rite

Last week, two women from Kathangacini Location in Tharaka North Sub-county were arrested and charged in a Marimanti court for allegedly aiding circumcision of a primary school girl.

Meru South Sub-county Njuri Ncheke chairman Mutegi Kiungo also expressed disappointment with the rampant FGM cases in the county.

He said the elders will continue working closely with the administration to fight the ‘cut’ noting that girls should be taken through an alternative rite of passage.

“Girls should be empowered through education and not circumcision,” said Mr Kiungo