Even as nations mark 16 days of Activism focus being ending Gender Based Violence against Women and Girls one Elizabeth Chepkurui Barta is an ambassador of the fight against FGM.
I meet her in Mogotio Town centre during an anti-FGM campaign organized by Dandelion Africa.
The elderly Elizabeth Chepkurui Barta who has since abandoned practicing FGM says her focus now is on how to help end the vice.
She says she practiced the vice for many years since 1985 not until after circumcising an expectant girl who bled profusely.
The incident forced her to seek refuge in the bush fearing the wrath of the law that would befall on her.
She conceded having cut about 60 girls before she quit the practice.
“When the girl bled profusely I had no otherwise than to run and hide in the bush for fear of my life. I stayed there till I got information that the girl got well” she narrates.
Since then, Elizabeth has now become an ambassador in the fight against FGM in the society and she says she can never go back to such acts which destroys the future of girl child.
She encourages those that are still practicing FGM to stop since it is against the law and dangerous.
“This is a bad vice and to those who still perpetrate such I call on them to stop as it is against the law and it destroys the future of girl child” she said.
Chepkurui blames outdated traditions and culture for the vice adding that in some instances security officers encounter hostilities while making arrests where cases of FGM have been reported.
PHOTO/Pristone Mambili:
Share thoughts