Kenya

Distribution of FGM/C across Kenya

Prevalence varies greatly depending on the region – the counties with the highest prevalence are Mandera (95.9% of women aged 15–49) and Wajir (97.2%). In other counties, prevalence is less than one per cent. Prevalence is more common among women who live in rural areas (18.4%) than among women who live in urban areas (9.7%).

FGM/C is practised across all ethnic groups and religions, although to varying degrees. The highest prevalences are among Muslim women (51.1% of women aged 15–49) and the Somali (86.9%), Kisii (70.9%), Maasai (56.7%), Somali (86.9%), and Samburu (75.9%).

92% of women aged 15–49 and 93.8% of men in the same age-range believe that FGM/C should not be continued.

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Trends in FGM/C Prevalence in Kenya

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The prevalence of FGM/C in Kenya has dropped from 37.6% of women aged 15–49 in 1998 to 21% in 2014 to 14.8% in 2022. Due to the large age-range of women included, however, the overall prevalence alone may not fully reflect the progress that has been made in recent years.

The progress toward ending FGM/C in Kenya is encouraging. Overall, the incidence of the practice is decreasing. However, there are aspects in Kenya that remain concerning. These include the medicalisation of the practice (in other words, FGM/C performed by healthcare workers), changes in the type of cutting performed (‘less severe’ types of FGM/C and the cutting of younger girls), hotspots where the practice continues, and cross-border FGM/C.

Latest Research

Reports Resources Articles

Data Update: FGM/C in Kenya (2025, English)

Country Profile Update: FGM in Kenya (2017, English)

Country Profile: FGM in Kenya (2013, English)

Kenya: The Law and FGM/C (2018, English)

Kenya: The Law and FGM/C (2018, Swahili)

FGM/C in the Horn of Africa: Signs of Change

FGM/C in the Horn of Africa: Accelerating Change (English)

FGM/C in the Horn of Africa: Accelerating Change (Somali)

FGM/C in the Horn of Africa: Evidence of Change

Prevalence by Age Graph Kenya 2022

FGM/C in Kenya: Progress, But Concerns Remain

Presentation: FGM in Kenya (2017, Swahili)

Prevalence Map: FGM in Kenya (2014, English)

Presentation: FGM in Kenya (2017, English)

Prevalence Map: FGM in Kenya (2014, Swahili)

Baseline Study Report: Female Genital Mutilation/ Cutting and Child Marriage among the Rendille, Maasai, Pokot, Samburu and Somali Communities in Kenya

A Baseline Study on Child Marriage, Teenage Pregnancy and FGM in Kenya

UNICEF Profile: FGM in Kenya (2016)

Kenya Print-Friendly Page

An Ethnography of Diversity and Flexibility Around Female Circumcision and Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Case of a Local Community Response to the Abolition Movement in Kenya

Lead Author: NAKAMURA Kyoko

Published by: Springer, Singapore

Year published: 2023

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Kenya, FGM/C, FGM

Transformation and Continuation: FGC Among the Gusii People in Western Kenya

Lead Author: MIYACHI Kaori

Published by: Springer, Singapore

Year published: 2023

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Kenya, FGM/C, FGM

Spatial Clustering in Temporal Trends of Female Genital Mutilation Risk: Leveraging Sparse Data in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia

Lead Author: WENY, Kathrin

Co-Author(s): DIOP, Nafissatou, ROMESH, Silva, SNOW Rachel

Published by: Wiley Periodicals LLC

Year published: 2023

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Factors Associated with the Perception of Ease and Intention to Practise Female Genital Mutilation on Daughters: A Cross-Sectional Study of Cross-Border Communities in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda

Published by: UNFPA

Year published: 2023

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Factors Linked to Female Genital Mutilation Practice Among Women Living In Alungu Village of Mandera County, Kenya

Lead Author: SHEIKH, Mohammed Mohammud

Co-Author(s): CHEPTUM, Joyce Jebet, MAGETO, Irene Gacheri

Published by: East African Health Research Journal

Year published: 2023

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The Intersection of Economy and Tradition: Understanding FGM Prevalence in Samburu County, Kenya

Lead Author: GIKUNDA, George Kimathi

Co-Author(s): BABU, Paul Kelvin

Published by: International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications

Year published: 2023

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Factors associated with the perception of ease and intention to practice female genital mutilation on daughters: A cross-sectional study of cross-border communities in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda

Published by: UNFPA

Year published: 2023

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What makes a woman? Understanding the reasons for and circumstances of female genital mutilation/cutting in Indonesia, Ethiopia and Kenya

Lead Author: KAKAL Tasneem

Co-Author(s): GITAU Tabither, HIDAYANA Irwan, KASSEGNE Abeje Berhanu, KOK Maryse, KWAAK Anke van der

Published by: An International Journal for Research, Intervention and Care

Year published: 2022

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The “Uncut” Stigma: Debunking the Myths and Misconceptions that Promote Female Genital Mutilation in Kenya

Lead Author: MUKABI Fredrick

Co-Author(s): CHEPNGENO Viola, ONCHAGWA Dorine

Published by: International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Year published: 2022

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Empowering Communities against Harmful Social Practices through Integrated Water Hygiene and Sanitation and Alternative Rites of Passage Model in Kajiado County, Kenya

Lead Author: MBOGO Bernard

Co-Author(s): LUGAYO Denge, MUHULA Sam, MUTUA Mercy, OPANGA Yvonne

Published by: East African Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies

Year published: 2022

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The perceived effects of COVID-19 pandemic on female genital mutilation/cutting and child or forced marriages in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Senegal

Lead Author: ESHO Tammary

Co-Author(s): ABEBE Sintayehu, ABUYA Timothy, CAMARA Khaltoume, GITIMU Anne, HAILU Yeshitila, KAGURUSI Patrick, KAMANZI Lilian, KAPSANDUI Tonny, KAWAI David, KOGADA John Okandi, MATANDA Dennis J., MOUHAMMED Bachir, NANKANJA Maureen, ONDIGO Millicent, OSUR Joachim, WABWIRE Andrew

Published by: BMC Public Health

Year published: 2022

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Influence of Culture on Girl Child Education in Central Pokot Sub County, Kenya

Lead Author: ANDIEMA Nelly C.

Published by: East African Journal of Education Studies

Year published: 2021

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Community-Based Child Protection Systems: Prevalence of Child Abuse in Mukuru Kwa Njenga Informal Settlement in Nairobi, Kenya

Lead Author: KIVUVA Reuben Mulwa

Co-Author(s): LUMAYO Mildred, OKECHE Pia

Published by: THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL STUDIES

Year published: 2021

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Impact of introduction of the anti-female genital mutilation law on the practice of female genital mutilation in Garissa County, Kenya

Lead Author: DEROW Yasmin H.

Co-Author(s): GITONGA Eliphas, JISUVEI Clayton S., OTIENO George, YOOS Alison

Published by: International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health

Year published: 2021

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The impact of community led alternative rite of passage on eradication of female genital mutilation/cutting in Kajiado County, Kenya: A quasi-experimental study

Lead Author: MUHULA Samuel

Co-Author(s): BANDE Martha, CONRADI Hilke, KARANJA Sarah, KAWAI David, KAYIAA Hellen, LESHORE Charles, MARITA Enock, MVEYANGE Anthony, OPANGA Yvonne, OTI Samuel Oji, SMET Eefje

Published by: PLoS ONE

Year published: 2021

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A hybrid, effectiveness-implementation research study protocol targeting antenatal care providers to provide female genital mutilation prevention and care services in Guinea, Kenya and Somalia

Lead Author: AHMED Wisal

Co-Author(s): AHMED Muna Abdi, BALDE Mamadou Dioulde, DIRIYE Ahmed, ESHO Tammary, MOCHACHE Vernon, NDAVI Patrick, PALLITTO Christina Catherine, PETZOLD Max, SOUMAH Anne-Marie, STEIN Karin

Published by: BMC Health Services Research

Year published: 2021

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