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mojatu .com
Sheriff of Nottingham and Mojatu Foundation shares
Nottingham’s City of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital
Mutilation (FGM) Model in Kenya - By Valentine Nkoyo
The Sheriff of Nottingham who is also the former Lord
Mayor of Nottingham, Cllr Jackie Morris, her husband
Reverend Andy Morris and Valentine Nkoyo CEO,
Mojatu Foundation, paid a visit to Kenya meeting
different stakeholders involved in the campaign
against FGM while forging links between Nottingham
and Kenya.
Following Nottingham’s declaration of Zero Tolerance to
FGM in September 2016 and subsequent work done by
Mojatu Foundation and the Sheriff in the UK parliament
and the United Nations Conference
in Vienna, the field trip
to Kenya was organised
to further the two parties
contribution
towards
elimination
of
harmful
traditional practices at the
source country.The main aims
of the visit were to learn and
share Nottingham’s model,
establish the current status
and trend of FGM practices
in Kenya. The visit also aimed
to establish new partnerships and
intervention
programmes for engagement of Mojatu Foundation and
to foster links with a number of Key institutions in Kenya
for collaboration in the fight against the FGM practices.
The achievement of our aims during the two weeks (22nd
April to 7th May) included strategic partner’s meetings,
a public lecture, workshops and direct observation.
Additionally, meeting the cutters and community dialogue
in FGM hot spots were organised in addition to literature
analysis. The potential partners include the Kenya National
Anti FGM Board, UNICEF, Councils of Elders, County
governments, faith leaders, grassroots NGOs, public and
private universities, colleges amongst others.
Despite the Kenyan government banning FGM in 2011 and
setting up an anti-FGM Board in 2013, the FGM practice
continues with over 90% prevalence in certain affected
communities. According to the Anti FGM Board, FGM is
still widespread but there are 17 counties regarded as
hotspots in the country where continuous interventions
are required. The delegation visited some of the very
remote areas including the Maasai Mara village where
dialogues were exchanged with the elders, community
leaders, survivors, cutters and young people.
Councillor Morris said “My role
during the visit was not to tell
people what to do or how to
lead their lives, but it was more
to understand and reason with
them so that we can find ways
to help by working alongside
communities and looking
for alternatives. I am very
proud to have represented
Nottingham, the City of Zero
Tolerance to FGM, where I
shared widely on the stance
we as a city took. I am pleased that we had many
platforms to share and learn”.
The team’s reception in Kenya by different stakeholders
was evident of the willingness to join hands in tackling FGM
and developing links between Nottingham and Kenya.
“I was very touched by the things I saw and heard. Small
steps can lead to big changes” the Sheriff added.
Having conversations with the cutters and families that
openly support and justify the reasons behind such
a harmful practice was evident that this issue is very
deeply rooted in community life. The conversations
revealed the need for very innovative, supportive and
development oriented initiatives to change their attitudes
and perceptions. However, we also spent time with young
people, elders, families, former cutters and survivors who