1. The Trend of Decline of FGM Prevalence in Kenya by Ethnicity
Prof Joseph Karanja
Dr Jane Wambui
Prof Guyo Jaledesa
All from: ACCAF, UoN

2. Definition and types
The World Health Organization defines female genital cutting as any procedure that removes or otherwise injures any part of a female’s external genitalia for non-medical reasons (1).
There are 4 types and Type III is the worst form
I clitoris only
II clitoris and labia
III citoris, labia and infibulation
IV all others

3. FGM is a form of gender-based violence and has been recognised as a harmful practice and a violation of the human rights of girls and women.
Between 100 and 140 million girls and women in the world are estimated to have undergone such procedures, and 3 million girls are estimated to be at risk of undergoing the procedures every year

4. Prevalent in Africa and Middle East
 A UNICEF report based on 70 DHS surveys concluded in 2013 that FGM was concentrated in 27 African countries, Yemen and Iraqi Kurdistan,[94

5. Global problem
Outside the 29 key countries, FGM has been documented in India, the United Arab Emirates, among theBedouin in Israel, and reported by anecdote in Colombia, Congo, Oman, Peru and Sri Lanka.[95] It is also practised in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Malaysia, and within immigrant communities around the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Scandinavia, the United States and Canada.[n 14][97]

6. British Campaign to stop FGM in Kenya
British campaign to stop FGM intensified in 1929–32.
It was met with resistance by the Kikuyu ethnic group
Issue became a focal point of the independence movement against British colonial rule,
FGM also became a test of loyalty, either to the Christian churches or to the Kikuyu Central Association.

7. Campaign by the church
The campaign against FGM was led by the Church of Scotland present day PCEA.
In March 1928 Kikuyu Central Association announced intent to contest elections to the Native Council, with the defence of Kikuyu culture, including FGM, as its main platform.
Churches demanded their followers to denounce FGM or else they would be excommunicated and their children denied entry into church schools.
The stage was set for a major conflict, with neither side willing to compromise.[3]

8. Views of Jomo Kenyatta
…. FGM was the "conditio sine qua non of the whole teaching of (kikuyu) tribal law, religion and morality." No proper Kikuyu man or woman would marry or have sexual relations with someone who was not circumcised.’’ Jomo Kenyatta, 1938
The prevalence of FGM among the KIKUYU during the s was almost 100%

9. Global decline in FGM prevalence
The UNICEF showed a downward trend in over half the 29 key countries in the 15–19 year group compared to women aged 45–49.
Little difference was found in countries with very high prevalence
Decline was significant in countries with lower prevalence and less severe forms of FGM
The likelihood of a girl experiencing FGM in 2014 was overall one third lower than 30 years before (UNICEF)

10. Decline in Prevalence of FGM by age and time (%) (UNICEF 2005; DHS 1998, 2003, 2008-09,2014)
Total

11. Prevalence of FGM in 15-49yr (%) (DHS 1998, 2003, 2008-09)

12. FGM decline by regions 1998 2003 2008-9 2014 Nairobi 19 13.8 8.0
Central 36
26.5
16.5
Coast 20
10.0
10.2
Eastern
35.8
36.4
Nyanza 35
33.8
32.4 RV 43
32.1
26.3
Western 4
0.8 NE 99
97.5

13. FGM (%) by ethnicity 1998 2008-9 Kalenjin 62.2 40.4 Kamba 38 22.9
Kikuyu 42
21.4
Kisii 97
96.1
Luhya
1.6
0.2
Luo
1.2
0.1
Maasai
88.8
73.2
Embu/embu
54.2
51.4 embu
Meru
39.7 meru
Mijikenda/sw
12.2
4.4
Taita/taveta
59.2
32.2
Other
19.2
Somali 97.6

14. FGM Declining Slowly
In Kenya the trend of decline is similar to the global.
FGM in Kenya has shown a decline from 37.6% in 1998, 32.3 % in 2003, 27.1% in and 21% in 2014 KDHS
There is regional (= ethnic) variation in the pattern of decline