Gender Cabinet Secretary nominee Stella Soi Lang’at emphasized the need to address poverty in communities to combat early marriages and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). She noted that the communities she engaged with during her field administration work, which practice FGM, often have high poverty levels.
“Most of the communities where FGM and early marriages are rampant have a very high poverty index, and girls are considered an investment,” Lang’at said. “To tackle the challenges of FGM and early marriages, we need to address poverty by empowering both men and women, especially the men.”
She made these remarks on Sunday while appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments during her vetting. Lang’at highlighted that the support of a male figure in the family is crucial for the empowerment and protection of girls.
“I am a daughter of a mechanic, and I can assure you that without the support of a male figure in a family, women cannot do much in terms of empowerment and protection of girls,” she said.
Lang’at stressed the importance of facilitating girls’ education by ensuring that each community has accessible schools. She also mentioned the need to provide essential items like sanitary towels to help girls transition through puberty smoothly.
Furthermore, Lang’at suggested finding alternative income sources for women who perpetuate FGM and creating awareness in communities where the practice is prevalent.
