Parents have been urged to closely supervise their children during the long school holiday to protect them from harmful cultural practices, particularly Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

The warning comes amid concerns that girls could be exposed to the outlawed practice when sent to rural homes during school holidays without adequate parental supervision.

Speaking during a graduation ceremony for Grade 9 and Grade 6 learners at Kwa Ng’ethe Primary School in Kiuu ward, Ruiru Constituency, Kiambu County, guest speaker Pastor Rev. Humphrey Mwilu cautioned parents against leaving their children vulnerable to harmful traditional practices.

Mwilu urged parents to maintain regular communication with their children, understand changes in their behavior and monitor the company they keep, noting that inadequate supervision could expose girls to practices whose consequences may only become apparent when schools reopen in January.

He encouraged parents to use the holiday period to strengthen family relationships by spending quality time with their children, discussing their academic progress and addressing their emotional and social well-being.

According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), the national prevalence of FGM among women aged 15–49 stands at 15 per cent, down from 21 per cent in 2014 and 38 per cent in 1998.

In Kiambu County, the prevalence stands at six per cent, compared to the national average of 15 per cent, according to county-level findings from the same survey.

The survey further established that nine per cent of adolescent girls aged 15–19 had undergone FGM nationally, underscoring the continued vulnerability of young girls despite sustained efforts to eradicate the practice.

Although the country has recorded significant progress in reducing FGM, disparities across counties remain a concern, with some communities continuing to experience considerably higher prevalence rates.

FGM is prohibited under the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act, 2011, which criminalizes all forms of the practice.

The graduation ceremony also celebrated 357 Grade 9 learners transitioning to senior school and 264 Grade 6 pupils, marking an important milestone in their educational journey under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

School headteacher Mrs Mary Ngiyo said the graduation was organized to boost learners’ confidence, recognize their achievements and motivate them to pursue higher academic goals.

She cited the example of a learner who had been out of school for nearly a year but eventually returned, sat for examinations and performed well, saying the experience demonstrated the CBC system’s emphasis on inclusivity and individual learner progression.

Ngiyo, however, raised concerns over inadequate infrastructure, revealing that the school has an average of 87 learners per classroom.

She said government support had enabled the institution to secure adequate teaching staff, while capitation funds had facilitated the construction of additional classrooms and sanitation facilities, with further support from the Safaricom Foundation.

The headteacher expressed optimism that the government’s planned early disbursement of capitation funds would enable the school to expand its infrastructure next year.

She appealed to development partners, organizations and well-wishers to support the construction of additional classrooms and toilets to improve the learning environment.

Ngiyo reaffirmed the school’s commitment to academic excellence and co-curricular activities, including music and drama, under its motto of producing game changers.

The learners wore graduation gowns during the ceremony, an initiative she said was intended to inspire them to envision their future academic journey, from senior school to university and ultimately postgraduate studies.

By Grace Naishoo