Source: allAfrica.com
The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association has welcomed the passage of the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Bill 2010 by Parliament saying it will greatly boost the fight against the practice.

KEWOPA Chairperson Linah Kilimo said the move had strengthened the government's commitment to eradicating female circumcision and early marriages which have frustrated development of girl-child education in many parts of the country.

Kilimo who is also the MP for Marakwet East said the Bill provides punitive penalties including a jail term of seven years or fine of Sh500,000 for anyone convicted of promoting FGM. "The next move now is to make sure that the new laws are fully implemented when they come into force so that we deal with the primitive FGM practice once and for all", said Kilimo.

She called upon the relevant government agencies to step up measures to raise awareness on both the law and the dangers posed to women by the FGM practice. Kilimo said girls in communities where FGM is common now have no cause for worry. "The girls can bow concentrate on their education without being forced to engage in the outdated cultural practice," she said.

• Kenya