Garissa Journalists Drawn Into Renewed War Against FGM

Kenya, May 28, 2026 - Journalists in Garissa have been challenged to take a frontline role in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), amid concerns that the outlawed practice remains widespread in parts of the region.

Speaking during a two-day media training workshop organised by Girl Kind Kenya in Garissa Town, facilitators said FGM continues to expose girls to trauma, anxiety, depression, school dropouts and severe health complications, including fistula.

The training, held under the *Born Perfect Caravans: From Law to Practice* project, seeks to strengthen legal awareness and enforcement efforts against FGM through responsible media reporting.

Girl Kind Kenya facilitator Abdullahi Buro urged journalists to uphold ethical reporting standards when covering FGM and sexual violence cases to avoid stigmatising survivors and to build trust within communities.

“You have a role to make this campaign against the outlawed cultural practice successful. The region is yet to fully abandon the harmful practice,” said Mr Buro.

He emphasised that the media remains a critical tool in educating communities about the dangers of FGM and mobilising support for its eradication.

During the session, Mr Buro also sensitised participants on referral pathways for survivors of FGM and rape, noting that many cases collapse due to failure to follow medical and legal procedures in time.

“Many victims skip the important procedure of accessing medical examination within 72 hours after a rape incident, resulting in cases being dropped during trial due to lack of sufficient evidence,” he said.

He further raised concern over the role of traditional *Maslah* dispute resolution systems, arguing that they often derail justice for survivors of FGM and sexual violence by settling cases outside the formal legal system.

Mr Buro also called on social media content creators to exercise responsibility when reporting incidents involving FGM and rape in order to protect the dignity and privacy of victims.

The workshop brought together journalists and digital content creators from Garissa County as part of wider efforts to strengthen community-led campaigns against FGM in northern Kenya.