Samburu Governor, Moses Lenolkulal, on Sunday, procured 20,000 knives meant to be used during a mass circumcision exercise.
The move, according to the local government, was made so as to combat the spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).
“What we have said as a county government because of the health of these youths we have ensured a single knife and gloves would be used to circumcise one boy to reduce the possibility of disease infections such as HIV and aids and Hepatitis which are there,” the governor remarked.
Once the large consignment of knives arrived in the county, it was blessed by elders at Nyiro area in Samburu North.
Local religious and political leaders graced the colourful event, including traditional male circumcisers and initiates.
Governor Lenolkulal assured all the boys set for circumcision that their spots in school were secured, adding that they would be re-enrolled after the ceremony.
"For those boys who will be undergoing circumcision we will ensure that they have continued with their education because we have a history that after circumcision many boys drop out of school due to moranism,” he pledged.
The move to have a single knife assigned to each initiate, is a stark contrast to previous years, where a single knife was used on all the boys,
The one-month-long circumcision exercise targets boys aged between 15 and 18.
