Gender activists in Migori County have started the process of integrating back into society girls who escaped Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) among the Kuria community, as schools are set to reopen for the academic calendar early next week.
From November 2025, the Bwirege Clan in the Kuria region, cutting across both Kenya and Tanzania, started the circumcision period, forcing several girls to flee their homes to avoid the cut.
At Komotobo Maranatha Mission in Kuria East Sub-county, 120 girls have been seeking shelter at the facility for the past two months for fear of being subjected to the cut.
“But most of these girls have been rejected by their families, and with schools set to reopen next week, we have started the process of counselling to ensure they are back with their families to continue with their education,” said Benter Odhiambo, coordinator at Micontrap Kenya.
She was speaking when the organisation undertook a donation of food and toiletries to the girls before having a bonding and counselling session to celebrate the festive season.
Odhiambo said activists from the region are out to ensure there is a hundred percent school transition of education, which is the main problem most girls face immediately after undergoing circumcision.
“Once circumcised, girls are considered mature and are ready for marriage or start engaging in sex; that leads to low rates of reporting back to school,” she regrets.
Denis Marwa, the centre manager, said that since 2007, the facility has opened its doors for fleeing girls, as the region lacks a government-owned rescue centre.
“We have girls whose parents were arrested and are undergoing the judicial process, while we have others whose parents have outwardly rejected any attempt of them going back to the family, which will affect their education,” Marwa said.
He disclosed that the centre has been training the girls on life skills and seeking role models to encourage them.
“We will have to release them back to their families in one way or the other because schools are set to open. We have created a team of elders, church leaders and family members to ensure they are reintegrated back,” he said.
Micontrap Kenya CEO Colleta Bwahi said that they will ensure they get data from schools and government administrators on the transition rate.
The three called on the government to help build a rescue centre that will help girls seek a longer and safer environment when they flee FGM.
The activists explained that for over two decades, their call to have a rescue centre in Kuria has been met with no action from either the county administration or the national government.
By Makokha Khaoya
