Woman Forces Twin Daughters, 12, to Undergo FGM to Avoid “Madness Curse”

Police have in custody a woman who is accused of forcing her 12-year-old twin girls to undergo the ‘cut’.

The woman was arrested Wednesday after the girls were found hidden at a home in Igambang’ombe Constituency, Tharaka-Nithi County.

Confirming the incident, County Commissioner Muzne Abdullatif said her office received a tip-off from officers working with Plan International, a non-governmental organisation, that the two girls had undergone female genital mutilation (FGM).

Ms Abdullatif added that the girls were mutilated two weeks ago.

Senior Sergeant Patrick Munene added that the act was performed by a well-known woman in the area who allegedly collaborated with their mother.

The mother of the girls, who declined to disclose the circumciser, defended herself saying she had circumcised her other four girls to avoid a family curse that had caused her mental problems when she ignored the cut.

My dead great-grandfather left a curse compelling all girls in his lineage to undergo the cut. If girls do not get the cut they go mad,” the woman said.

She alleged that the girls had started developing some mental complications but recovered immediately they were circumcised.

“I have to choose between death and circumcising them,” she added.

The twins were taken to Chuka Referral Hospital where they received treatment before they were transferred to the child department as investigations continue.

A clinical officer at the hospital who sought anonymity said one of the girls had been infected with a bacteria disease and was put under medication.

The mother is being held at Chuka police station.