Kenyan Masai seek to end female genital mutilation

“These punitive penalties are deterrent enough if effectively enforced,” she said early last month.

“Female genital mutilation is partly responsible for the high maternal and infant mortality rates, which are very common among communities where female genital mutilation is widely practiced,” Kibaki said.

But female circumcision is still widespread among the Masai and the harmful tradition still has strong supporters.

“It is not something that will end soon. It will take time,” admitted Ololoigero. “We don’t want to upset the community. Remember we come from that community. We want to have a gradual change.”