Source: All Africa
Assistant Minister of Cooperative Development and Marketing Linah Jebii Kilimo has lauded the move by the Parliament to pass the anti-female genital mutilation Bill 2011. She termed the act by the Parliament as a major boost in the fight against the outdated practice.
Kilimo said the Bill provides punitive penalties including a jail term of seven years or fine of Sh500,000 for anyone convicted of abetting FGM. The minister said it was time for the law enforcers to ensure that the law on FGM is strictly enforced once it becomes fully operational. "Now that the law is in place, the biggest challenge is to ensure that it is effectively enforced through out the country," said Kilimo.
She thanked her parliamentary colleagues for passing the Bill, noting that it was a welcome development in the war against the vice. Speaking during a fund drive in aid of St Mary's Secondary School in her Marakwet East Constituency on Saturday, the MP said the prohibition of FGM will have a positive impact on the development of girls and women.
During the harambee Sh2.4 million was raised. Eldoret North MP William Ruto who was the chief guest sent Sh300,000 while Kilimo gave Sh230,000 and the school community gave Sh600,000 among others.
Kilimo said girls in communities where FGM is common now have no cause for worry and can be able to concentrate on their education without being forced to engage in the outdated cultural practice. She called on the need for the relevant government agencies to step up measures to raise awareness on both the law and the dangers posed to women by this practice.