Guest Blog By Arushi Singh
Beyond the sweeping global statistics around gender inequality lies a region where the weight of tradition presses heaviest: in East Africa, elevated rates of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) paint a stark and compelling picture of a deeply entrenched practice.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), FGM is defined as the partial or total removal of female genital organs for non-medical reasons. FGM is internationally recognized as a human rights violation and is predominantly concentrated in Africa and the Middle East. An estimated 230 million girls and women worldwide have undergone some form of FGM—many before the age of 15. Research shows that 63 million girls will be circumcised by 2050, making it not only a human rights violation, but also a serious global health issue.
Despite being legally prohibited, FGM persists due to deeply rooted cultural and religious beliefs, and is often coupled with child marriage, another severe human rights violation. Many young girls are circumcised to ‘preserve their virginity,’ a mandatory marriage requirement in some cultures. FGM is also sometimes a social and cultural norm used to reinforce male superiority and control over women’s sexuality and satisfy male sexual needs.
Key Data Trends
Across East Africa, prevalence rates for FGM vary dramatically, with the region accounting for a significant portion of the over 200 million girls and women worldwide who have undergone the practice. Cross-border FGM is a concern for women living in the border areas of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda, undermining national and regional efforts to eliminate FGM.
According to the latest UNICEF report, prevalence rates of FGM among women aged 15-49 vary considerably by country:
- Somalia: Remains very high at approximately 98%
- Ethiopia: Around 65%
- Kenya: Has seen a decline but still stands at about 15% (latest data from 2022). Earlier data showed 21% in 2014 and 27% in 2008/9
- Tanzania: Around 10%
- Uganda: Significantly lower, at less than 1%
The practice is almost universal in Somalia, Guinea, and Djibouti, with levels of 90% or higher, while it affects no more than 1% of girls and women in Cameroon and Uganda.
In some countries, the medicalization of FGM, which is performed by healthcare practitioners, is also concerning. Approximately one in four FGM survivors—around 52 million women and girls globally—experienced FGM from health workers. Medicalization violates ethics and risks legitimizing the practice, suggesting it has no consequences. No matter the location or practitioner, FGM is never safe. All forms of FGM remove and damage healthy tissue, interfering with girls’ biological functions. Currently, many programs (such as the UNFPA and UNICEF’s joint program to eradicate FGM) include educating healthcare providers to stop procedures of FGM in their practice and advocating against the practice by providing education to the patients.
FGM in Maasai Communities
FGM is a significant challenge in the Maasai communities in East Africa. While national data in Maasai communities has not been obtained, the available data and research consistently indicate significantly higher prevalence rates compared to national averages in Kenya and Tanzania. In the Maasai communities, FGM is often deeply embedded in cultural traditions as a rite of passage. For Maasai girls, this practice can have devastating physical, psychological, and social consequences. While traditionally seen as a gateway to womanhood and marriage, uncut girls can face stigma and limited opportunities within their communities.
In Kenya, the prevalence of FGM among Maasai women aged 15-49 is reported to be around 56.7% to 78%. Tanzanian regions with a large Maasai population, such as Manyara (58%), Arusha (41%), and possibly parts of Dodoma (47%), have some of the highest rates of FGM incidence in the country.
Finding Gaps in the Solution
Cultural and economic obstacles prevent Maasai girls from obtaining an education. In Kenya, only about 18% of women aged 25 and older have completed secondary education, with roughly 49% of young women aged 15-24 labeled as illiterate. Numerous studies have shown that girls who stay in school are much less likely to undergo FGM or be forced into child marriage. Education not only provides girls with knowledge and critical thinking skills but also strengthens their confidence and self-worth, and introduces them to different life opportunities. Consequently, the limited access to education in many Maasai communities in Kenya and Tanzania correlates to high rates of FGM.
Many current solutions to this issue target legal, policy, and adult interventions; but there are limited solutions that directly engage with young girls. Many existing interventions focus on health risks or legal consequences yet don’t address the social and emotional pressure girls face to conform to traditions. For long-lasting change, education needs to be more accessible for both adults and young girls, as well as at the family and community level.
The Power of Mentorship and Educational Programs
One powerful component within education-based interventions is mentorship, which connects girls with trusted adults or peers who provide guidance, encouragement, and support throughout their development. Mentorship programs typically offer comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education, helping girls understand their bodies, rights, and choices. They also include leadership training, empowering girls to become advocates for themselves and their peers, while peer support networks foster solidarity and a sense of shared purpose. Crucially, these programs often integrate role models from within the community, which helps break down cultural barriers, build trust and relatability, and limit reluctance to ‘outsider’ interventions.
Education programs that incorporate mentorship initiatives focus on providing safe spaces for girls to learn, express themselves, and develop resilience to societal pressures. As a result, school retention rates tend to increase by 20%-30%, and the rate at which mentored girls refuse FGM nearly double. Successful programs also encourage organized conversations with boys and seniors to facilitate broader community-level discussions around FGM to promote cultural shifts by examining (and ultimately abandoning) harmful conventional practices.
Gaps in the Current Programs
Many educational and mentorship programs are concentrated in urban areas and tend to exclude remote and rural groups, such as the Maasai in Kenya and Tanzania. These communities often lack essential infrastructure, like schools and community centers, for hosting mentorship activities, which complicates consistent engagement. Additionally, Maasai communities can be resistant to mentorship programs, as FGM is a deeply rooted cultural practice. In conservative communities, mentorship programs are often met with skepticism, especially if perceived as foreign or misaligned with local traditions. Young mentors or facilitators may encounter pushback from elders, and girls could face discouragement or even repercussions for participating.
The Road Ahead
Over three million girls in East Africa are currently at risk of FGM. No matter where or how it is performed, FGM causes extreme physical and psychological harm. However bleak this reality, attitudes about FGM are trending towards positive change. Of 400 million people in FGM-practicing countries in Africa and the Middle East, around two-thirds are against it. Girls and women with primary education are 30% more likely to oppose the practice, and 70% more likely if they’ve received a secondary education.
Educational programming for Maasai girls is imperative, and should encompass not only sexual and reproductive health education, but also ensure access to a support system that enables them to advance their education while dismantling gender barriers. Mentorship empowers girls, offering guidance to challenge social norms and advocate for themselves. Critically, mentorship programs must expand to fully engage with Maasai communities in order to provide essential education on FGM. Doing so will accelerate the eradication of this harmful practice altogether, once and for all.
About the Author
Arushi Singh’s dedication to public health was sparked by her early volunteer work at a women’s shelter and longstanding involvement with nonprofit organizations. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Rutgers University in 2022, where a course on women’s health first exposed her to the global crisis of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Continuing her interest in research and desire to create a social impact in women’s health, she has also earned a Master of Public Health at Imperial College London, graduating in 2023 with a concentration in global health and infectious diseases. As part of her studies, she wrote and research a paper examining the prevalence and impact of FGM in Sub-Saharan Africa. In recognition of her sustained commitment to community service and advocacy, Arushi was awarded the 2025 Congressional Gold Medal. She currently works as a Program Coordinator at a nonprofit organization, where she supports community health centers across New York State through training, technical assistance, and health data reporting to improve care for underserved populations.
Resources
- UNICEF: Female genital mutilation (FGM)
- WHO Fact Sheet on FGM
- Country policy and information note: female genital mutilation (FGM), Kenya (GOV.UK)
- Exploring Perceptions of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Abandonment (FGM/C) in Kenyan Health Care Professionals (PMC/PubMed Central)
- What is female genital mutilation? Everything you need to know about FGM and what UNICEF is doing to stop it
- World Bank Group: Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary, population 25+, female (%) (cumulative) – Kenya
