The Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government will now supervise circumcision of boys from 2019.
This has come at a time when concerns have emerged about the safety of the tradition after the death of 2 boys in the hands of their caregivers.
It is reported that criminals have infiltrated the cultural rite and were now recruiting young initiates into criminal gangs.
Some initiates have been hospitalised after being forced to consume poisonous substances and urine in Nyandarua County and one boy died in Muranga County.
Nyandarua County Commissioner, Boaz Cherutich, has condemned the criminals by stating “I have gone across the county and discovered that the exercise has been infiltrated by criminals who are misleading the young boys.”
He explained that crooks would wait for the boys to leave circumcision centres then raid their homes to brainwash them.
Central Regional Commissioner, Wilson Njega, has also been quoted plotting to uncover members of the outlawed Mungiki sect who are using circumcision to initiate them into the outlawed organisation.
According to many Kenyan cultures, elders should preside over boys' initiation but the culture has faded away allowing other groups, to take up the role.
The ceremony has been largely commercialized with groups charging between Ksh5,000 and Ksh8,000 to cater for the operation, accommodation and counselling sessions.
Parents who cannot afford the fees are forced to take their sons to local health centres for the procedure.
