Principal Secretary, State Department for Gender, Ann Wangombe, has reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to eliminating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), noting that prevalence among women aged 15–49 has declined to 15%, according to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS).

She delivered the keynote address at the Regional Convening for Learning Exchange between Anti-FGM Boards from Kenya, Somaliland, Ethiopia, and Senegal – a platform dedicated to strengthening cross-border collaboration and sharing effective strategies to end FGM.

“While legislation and enforcement are essential, sustainable change depends on community-led initiatives, empowerment programs, and coordinated regional action,” said PS Wangombe. “We must continue to adopt data-driven approaches to design interventions that are both evidence-based and impactful.”

The PS emphasized that collaboration and informed action remain key to accelerating the elimination of FGM, calling on governments, communities, and partners across Africa to unite efforts in ensuring the protection and empowerment of girls and women.