Baringo County Governor Benjamin Cheboi, has warned the Pokot community living in the area against unnecessary circumcision of little boys causing them to miss school.
The Governor issued a one-week ultimatum for parents of more than 3,000 boys to return them to school.
“We need our children back in school to enable them compete with others across the country. The people here are still adamant to take them back to school,” Cheboi said.
Speaking in Kabarnet town as he presented cheques to 30 beneficiaries of Equity Bank's Wings to Fly programme, Governor Cheboi emphasized that the county government will arrest those involved in the rites after the notice ends.
Baringo County Commissioner Peter Okwanyo echoed Governor's sentiments stating that after two weeks, the government will use force to send the boys back to school, whether healed or not.
The leaders were speaking after noting that the Pokot community living in the county were persistent with the practice even when the boys ought to be in school.
“The child deserves the right of protection under the constitution, if you don’t find me in my office, then I am in Tiaty sub county, struggling with thick-headed Pokots,” Okwanyo remarked.
