NO END TO FGM WITHOUT SUSTAINED COMMITMENT AND INVESTMENT

To commemorate the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation we joined the Narok County Gender Technical Working Group, community leaders, and partners at Naikarra Boarding and Comprehensive. Under this year’s global theme, “Her Voice Matters in the Global Movement to End FGM,” the event served as a powerful reminder that while progress is being made, the journey to 2030 requires unwavering investment.

The event, organised by the Gender Technical Working Group in collaboration with other CSOs including Amref and World Vision, brought together a diverse assembly of voices. Highlighting the legal and human rights perspective, Senior Magistrate Nancy Baraza urged residents to shun FGM as an outdated violation of human rights. She emphasized that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) remains committed to the strict enforcement of anti-FGM laws and the eradication of all forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

Representing Amref, Viola delivered a stirring call to action centred on the agency of the young people and survivors: “Ending FGM is not only about laws and policies; it is about people especially girls. Change begins when we challenge the status quo, support survivors, and create safe spaces for dialogue. Zero tolerance means no excuses, no silence, and no turning away. It is about standing up, speaking out, and taking collective action to end FGM.”

The day featured student performances and community dialogues that underscored the pivotal role of dismantling patriarchy to protect the futures of young women, reinforcing that progress cannot be achieved through short-term interventions alone.

One of our youth champion – Soipan the poet re-emphasized the message through a narrative “Silence was the old way; standing up is the new way; ending FGM is the only way”

In a landmark announcement, Amref highlighted the launch of the Future4Binti Programme, a five-year initiative (2026–2030) supported by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) with a total budget of EUR 49,120,000. Aligned with the Dutch MoFA Focus Framework, this locally-led, gender-transformative program aims to accelerate the elimination of harmful practices including FGM/C and child marriage across Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia. In Kenya, Future4Binti will scale these efforts across 10 counties: Narok, Kajiado, Samburu, West Pokot, Migori, Marsabit, Tana River, Wajir, Mandera, and Garissa. As we look ahead, we reaffirm that ending FGM is possible, but only if we amplify the voices of girls and back our commitment with the resources necessary to lead the change.