Spouses of newly elected and re-elected governors in Kenya convened for a sensitization and strategy workshop on prevention and response to female genital mutilation, gender-based violence and child marriage, organized under the auspices of the County First Ladies Association, with support from UNFPA Kenya Country Office.

The workshop brought together 17 First Ladies from the 22 FGM hotspot counties who took part in a series of learning sessions aimed at strengthening their advocacy, planning, and resource mobilization skills in order to effectively support the implementation of anti FGM interventions in their counties. In a session led by former Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of  Public Service, Gender and Affirmative Action Hon. Linah Jebii Kilimo, the first ladies engaged in a deep-dive on the various national and legal instruments that criminalize FGM in Kenya. Hon. Kilimo urged the first ladies to work closely with law enforcement officers in their counties so as to deliver on the promise of zero FGM in Kenya.

The workshop culminated in a signed declaration by the first ladies where they commited to among other things, become champions of change in their counties, and to advocate for increased financing and research for evidence based programming to end FGM. The first ladies also commited to mobilizing cultural and religious leaders,women-led organizations, state and non-state actors  and other stakeholders to take collective action in accelerating an end to FGM.  

“As the first ladies association, we will also work to ensure political goodwill and commitment is sustained, as we work to address emerging trends in FGM such as medicalization, changes in types of FGM, and the age in which it is performed,” said Marsabit County First Lady Alamitu Jattani.