Factors Influencing Female Genital Mutilation In Kenya: A Case Of Maasai Community, Kajiado Central Subcounty, Kajiado County

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the factors influencing female genital mutilation among Maasai community in Kajiado Central Sub-county. The objectives of this study included: to examine the influence of economic factor, assess the influence of social factor, determine the influence of cultural factor and Find out the influence of political factor respectively on the persistence of female genital mutilation among the Maasai community in Kajiado Central Subcounty. The study employed descriptive survey design with qualitative and quantitative approaches to data collection. The target population was 162,278 residents from 35,403 households in Kajiado Central Sub-County. The sample size for this population was 400 arrived at by Yamane (1967) formula for population proportion out of which 200 respondents got to participate. Stratified random sampling method was applied in data collection where questionnaires and interview schedules were administered to the respondents by the researcher and research assistants. The data was logged in and analyzed using SPSS and presented using frequency tables to facilitate comparisons and conclusions. Data collected was analyzed and interpreted based on the identified independent variables. With an acceptable reliability test of 0.847, the study results revealed that culture, economic, social and political pillars played a vital role that influenced FGM/C, with a mean score of 3.38, 3.42, 3.54 and 3.27 respectively. The study concluded that FGM is a social problem which affected many of the women and girls psychologically and socially. A lot of educational awareness and anti-FGM campaigns need to be done with the political and religious leaders taking the leading role. Culture is a sensitive issue and hence those planning to address this need to have enough knowledge on other people’s culture and should not generalize culture plus there should be economic empowerment activities to the Maasai community. The researcher recommended that local leaders/ politicians, church leaders together with all other key stakeholders should enforce women and girls’ rights through participatory/advocacy for education-in-culture and culture-in-education and severe punishment should be taken against those found practicing and promoting the female genital cuttings. In addition, continuous anti-FGM campaigns, awareness, sensitization and education should be done that include topics and discussions on human rights violation and the harmful effects caused by FGM/C.