Women Reps blast Meru Police for arresting FGM victims, demand accountability for perpetrators

Speaking during an intercounty women’s derby match in Maili Tatu, Meru, the lawmakers expressed their shock and frustration over the police’s handling of FGM cases particularly in the wake of a disturbing trend in Meru County.

“FGM is a vice that still thrives in Meru but it is beyond shocking to see small girls being arrested and treated as criminals, while the real perpetrators the so-called ‘surgeons’ and mothers who orchestrate these horrific acts, are left to walk free,” said Kailemia

Njoki Njeru echoed her colleague's sentiments, questioning why authorities were more focused on penalizing the victims of this brutal practice rather than taking them to medical care to get checked. 

“Instead of rushing to arrest these vulnerable girls, the first thing police ought to have done was to take them to the nearest medical center for check up,” she said.

Meru County has been notorious for its high prevalence of FGM as school holidays often sees a surge. 

The FGM Council's most recent data has highlighted Meru as one of the counties leading in FGM cases, with many incidents originating from Nyambene region. 

The two lawmakers have called on the Meru Police to reassess their approach to FGM cases and ensure that the focus is placed on the perpetrators who facilitate this crime rather than the young victims who are often powerless in the face of tradition and family pressure.