Mother Burns Daughter's Genitals

A woman in Imenti North, Meru County, is wanted by police after she burnt her daughter's genitals for refusing to undergo Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

The woman allegedly beat her 13-year-old daughter with a hot machete last weekend, when she discovered that she had attended an anti-FGM training organised by Kithoka St Joseph Catholic and SOS Children's Home. The girl reportedly attended the event held between December 26-30, turning down her mother's preferred option of getting cut. 

“We hosted the girls with permission from their parents. We do not know what happened to the mother, because she trussed up her daughter with a rope, and with a hot object she burnt her on the face and other parts,” said Rose Kathure, a social worker at SOS.

The girl's brother got home and found his sister with severe burn wounds forcing him to alert the neighbours, who rushed her to Meru Level Five Hospital.

It is reported that the mother later fled from the scene and is being hunted down by police who intend to charge her with causing extreme bodily harm to the child.

Meru Hospital CEO Nthuraku M'Riara, urged the community to respect the rights of children without imposing illegal ideologies on them.

“We are saddened by the event, because it is a step backwards. We want to see a situation where parents and other members of a right thinking society do not infringe on the rights of children,” said Mr M’Riara.

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