Feature Stories: Female Genital Mutilation, Kenya

It is estimated that 38 percent of women in Kenya are circumcised and this is almost double in some districts where 80 - 90 percent of girls are cut. This is a story of Juliana, a Samburu girl, who was to be married. The marriage ceremony goes on for three days. The first day is for blessings, the second day is her excision (where her labia menora, majora and clitroris are completely removed) and the third day is her marriage. Juliana lost alot of blood and so on the third day I took her to hospital to be operated on. Today with FGM being illegal and the ritual still being performed, many girls are dying as their families are too scared to take them to hospital for fear of being arrested.