

I_Rep Foundation believes that communities hold the key to creating a lasting change to the FGM problems they face and are willing to drive this change from within its core. Involving community groups can result in relevant local strategies with greater impacts. This is the reason that the organization has been vital in building on community-based strategies by encouraging local community members to form locally-based groups to spearhead the FGM campaigns at the grass root levels. One such village-based group is RIKAT, that I_Rep supported and are currently very active in FGM campaigns in far flung areas like Kapatet, which has an FGM prevalence close to 100%.
This adoption of a bottom-up approach in dealing with the practice is the most effective avenue to abandoning FGM since these interactions put the community at the front position of their own progress. Communities have solutions to their own problems and therefore, it is crucial that more groups such as RIKAT be formed to strengthen prevention and abandonment of FGM at a local level. RIKAT has acted as community champions because they have driven a local opposition to FGM as they are raising awareness of the practice and mobilising widespread support for the campaigns to end FGM.
The value of community-led change in local FGM strategies has brought about strengthening and providing credibility for efforts to end FGM in Central Pokot. I_Rep foundation has equally been vital in
explaining legislation to the RIKAT group members to ensure it is understood and not seen as a threat or an attack. This group is ready to challenge and contest the FGM practice and in so doing be effective agents for supporting cultural change.
RIKAT group is looking forward to spread EndFGM campaigns to other villages within Mosop location. This is a great achievement as far as the fight against FGM is concerned. Therefore, I_Rep aims at supporting and empowering more of such groups to reach areas identified as FGM hotspots. Specifically, the foundation intends to form a group in Chepkokogh village, Lomut Ward.
When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, this saw a mass cutting of girls in West Pokot since schools had closed. The prevalence rate of FGM rose to 90%.2020 was a year defined by the pandemic and we were not able to do much because of the lockdown and the curfew restrictions. However, despite all the challenges,…
Domtila Chesang,I_Rep Foundation director addressing the residents of Mosop,Lomut Ward ‘I am Responsible’ (I_Rep) with support from The Five Foundation embarked on a 3-Day EndFGM sensitization Campaign at Chemutlokotyo in Central Pokot Sub County. Chemutlokotyo is a village within Mosop location, Lomut Ward which can only be accessed by motorcycles. Characterized by a rocky, tough…
Sheila, not her real name, a 12, year-old was forcefully married to an old man by her wealth-minded father whose aim was to increase his household wealth. In her community, parents are known to embrace this retrogressive practice of marrying off their daughters at a tender age in exchange for wealth. “I heard a knock…
Jonathan Tyno Rotino is a holder of master’s degree in International Relations from USIU. He hails from Siyoi ward in West Pokot County, Kenya. He is the founder and director of Tyno FC, a local football club in his home village Siyoi. He uses this platform to engage, empower and nature youth talents in his…
Belinda is a 13-year-old girl from Kaptolomwo village in Kasei Ward, West Pokot County, Kenya. She is brilliant and determined to excel and secure herself a high school of her choice. Her dream was to complete her studies, secure a job and help her struggling mother to bring up her younger siblings. Sadly, as it…
I_Rep Foundation director Domtila Chesang addressing the residents of Cheptuya in the fight against FGM. In March this year, Kenya reported the first Covid-19 case in the country. The Government had to act quickly and responded by taking stern measures to curb the spread of the deadly virus. Wearing of masks in all public places,…