- Add new comment
- 1025 views
A Kenyan medical practitioner has moved to court seeking to have female circumcision legalized.
In a case lodged at the Machakos High Court, Dr Tatu Kamau wants Kenyan women be allowed to undergo female circumcision, commonly referred to as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
In a case filed before Justice David Kemei on Wednesday, Mrs Kamau further seeks to have the Anti-FGM Board, which has been running a campaign against the practice, disbanded.
Addressing the media after filing the case, Dr Kamau argued that outlawing of female circumcision goes against the culture of many African communities and that is why it should be reviewed.
She said female adults should be given the freedom to make choices regarding their bodies without being condemned through legislation.
She says the term FGM is a “misnomer” coined by Westerners who are now practicing it after renaming it Female Genital Surgery.
“It is a label given to us by those who do not understand it,” she said of the practice and its legal name.
She further notes that female circumcision was part and parcel of African cultural practices before colonialism, and as such should not be made illegal.
“Much as we want to protect the girl, there are many women who have been harassed and jailed in the last three years. Once you reach adulthood there is no reason why you should not make that decision,” she said.
"Legalizing female circumcision will make it easy for those who want to undergo it to seek the best medical services, thus making the procedure safe," she added.
“Female circumcision is practiced differently from one community to another, but it can be made safe. It is a minor surgical procedure that does not require anesthesia or being put into a theater.”
She questioned Parliament’s decision to legislate on a cultural issue, saying it amounts to overstepping its mandate.
“If Parliament can try to abolish a culture, tomorrow it will abolish religion or something else. The Anti-FGM Act is a bad precedence of trying to micro-manage our culture,” she observed.
Her case will be heard on February 26th.
Comments
If you don't want Light and Life in the House, remove the Electric Switch from the Wall. FGMed women do NOT have Electricity, Light nor Life in them. "They dead". So Sad.
Legalize FGM and perform it safely in a Hospital setting.
What is the purpose of female genital surgery or mutilation? Besides being a cultural norm, how else is it beneficial to the victim and society in general?
That's what I have asked many proponents of FMG,but have never gotten agood answer,except that I am not for african culture.
Most of those tribes that used to knock off their teeth hardly do it anymore. It gets difficulty to bit,or chew nyama choma.And most of those sudanese who came to USA with that tradition have quickly filled the gaps with fake teeth.
Let's make our decisions based on today's problems,not those of yesteryears.
I have heard that the original purpose of FGM was to curb women's sexual appetite.If this is true then we are perpetuating the steriotype that african women have sexual desires that are insatiable.
Having said this, I have no problem if an adult woman over 25 desires to mutilate herself. I oppose those that are forced in the name of tradition.Just like under age marriage was"african culture" we are doing away with it because see its destructive nature on young girls.
Let's follow my religion SCIENCE, it never leads you astray.If this "religion science" has no answers,anything else is just guess work.As you know sometime you can guess right,but most of the time its wrong.VIVA la Science.Keep body part intact.Each part has a purpose.Even the shithole.
Nakubaliana na Dada Tatu Kamau. Maambo ya tohara ni mambo ya mtu binafsi. Kama mwanamke au mwanamume akitaka kufanyiwa jambo hilo, ni vizuri afanyiwe hospitalini ambako atatoka hospitalini akiwa mzima. Wavulana na wasichana wachache wamepoteza maisha yao na kufa baada ya tohara.
Ningependa kuona mambo ya tohara yakiruhusiwe baada ya mtu kuwa mzima. Jambo ambalo ningependa lizingatiwe ni kuwa kama umetahiriwa au hujatahiriwa, usibaguliwe hata kidogo.
@Matusi, nakuomba tafadhali uwachane na MATUSi yako unapotoa maoni yako. Yaonekana dhahiri ya kwamba hamna tofauti yoyote baina yako na ya kiongozi wa nchi ya Marekani. Nyote wawili mwapenda sana kuwatusi binadamu wenzenu.
FGM is only harmfull when practiced using crude methods/tools, for a consenting Adult, its perfectly OK if done clinically.
Bravo bravo Docta kamau!Its very true FGM was n is part of our African culture n there was a reason for the practice especially for those who think it is part of their culture.But personally it is bad when it is forced to a young girl who cannot make her decision but as u clearly said let the woman make that decision when she has grown up either to do it or not n as you truly said the wazungus call it surgery!!!So I support it but only when a woman is adult enough to make her decision!
OB/GYN have enough evidence that women who have been circumcised have difficulty in giving birth as they lack of elasticity of the birth canal due to the scar. They have painful sexual intercourse due to tightened muscles. Dr. Kamau what is your area of your specialty? Stay on your own lane because whatever you are saying is not beneficial to women.
Kenya. You Nailed it.
@Guest 1, she want to make quick money. She is after money
...maybe needs a few coins...or is it fame? Where did she go to school? What a calico, my God!
@Justme, just as somebody said they need to revoke her license. Jaramongi had his 6 teeth knocked down but Raila has all his teeth. Why? they know pulling down 6 teeth interfere with our digestive system. hapo @maxiley I borrowed from you
FGM is an outdated practice that serves no purpose.This snake oil doctor needs to have her medical licence revoked.Studies have been conducted to reveal that women suffer for the rest of their lives and this has nothing to do with the use of crude or unhygienic instruments.There is no benefit to this practice especially today where women refuse to be silenced or controlled.
@ Maxiley. Nakuunga mkono sana kwa kusema umri wa amiaka 25 uwe ndio umri ambao mtu mwenyewe anastahili kuamua iwapo anataka kufanyiwa tohara lakini iwe hospitalini tu.
Si tohara peke yake. Mtoto asilazimishwe kuwa mfuasi wa dini fulani kabla hajatimiza umri uo huo. Duniani tuna matatizo mengi ambayo yangeweza kupinguzwa iwapo mtu ameamua mwenyewe kujiunga au kutojiunga na jambo fulani la mila baada ya kuwa mtu mzima. Kwa mfano, katika taifa dogo (micro-nation) langu la asili, mtoto wa kwanza (wa kiume) ndiye anayesimamia mambo yote ya mji baada ya wazazi wote kufa. Mimi nilipinga vikali sana jambo hilo mpaka wazazi wangu wakalikubali. Nilisema ya kwamba, hakuna aliyechagua kuzaliwa kifungua mimba au kifunga mimba. Kwa hiyo, sisis sote ni sawasawa.
An adult woman can choose to cut her throat or vagina if she wish so . The issue is about parents who force underage girls to be mutilated . What is unfortunate is that it is a woman who is promoting forced circumcision . It is very possible and her children are not circumcised but want to destroy other mens girls for the sake of money she want to do the job . shame!!
Dr Kamau does not appear to speak from a medical point of view. Her main concern is maintenance of cultural behavior.
FGM has no medical or spiritual benefits.It was instituted as a point of rite of passage. Medically the start of menstruation should be regarded as rite of passage for girls and parents , teachers & counselors should educate the girls accordingly.
According to the Bible, God NEVER required circumcision for girls=hence UNNECESSARY.
God instructed the boy child to be circumcised on 8th day when his immunity was optimum for better healing. It was also to be used in the future for teaching about cutting away sin from our lives-God was dealing with the head of household who would subsequently teach his household(Genesis 17:9-14) to obey God.Chapter 17 tells of the Covenant God was making between Abraham and all nations that would align with him.
NO NEED THEREFORE FOR FGM.
@Lois Magua: We got independence 54 years ago what are you doing with the name "Lois?" Shame on you!
Imara-My God was before 1954 and I follow what He says. His Word says I am free not a slave to man made regulations.By the way my grandmother who was before my birth and after whom I am named was not a slave either.I am not ashamed of who I am nor the name my mother gave me.I also happen to be a witness that circumcision for girls has NO BENEFITS EITHER MEDICALLY OR SPIRITUALLY!! That's the topic not Names.
Fake doctor. After all that education she could not get ghetto out of herself. Dr. Kamau is a shithole