UN report: Kenya’s quiet win on FGM at risk without urgent action
Kenya is earning global recognition for progress in curbing female genital mutilation (FGM), but a new United Nations report warns that the country must accelerate its efforts nearly thirtyfold to meet the 2030 elimination target.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Report 2025, released on Sunday, August 24, 2025, highlights Kenya as one of the African nations showing clear progress against FGM through legislation, community outreach, and survivor-led campaigns. Yet the report cautions that unless the pace of change increases dramatically, millions of girls across the region remain at risk.
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“Kenya has made notable progress in reducing the prevalence of female genital mutilation, driven by legal reforms and grassroots activism,” the report states.
“However, to achieve global elimination of FGM by 2030, progress must be 27 times faster than in the past decade.”
This stark warning comes despite the gains achieved since the 2011 Prohibition of FGM Act, which criminalised the practice. Community-based organisations, especially in counties such as Narok, West Pokot and Samburu, have reported sharp declines in cutting rates, with thousands of girls opting for alternative rites of passage instead of the knife.
But the fight is far from over. The SDG report points out that child marriage remains stubbornly high in sub-Saharan Africa, which has the world’s highest prevalence.
“Child marriage continues to undermine the rights and opportunities of girls, with progress far too slow to meet global targets,” it says.
Combating FGM menace
Kenya’s own surveys confirm the challenge, showing child marriage persisting in rural counties, often intertwined with poverty and cultural traditions. The report warns that unless school retention improves, especially for girls in secondary education, families will continue pushing early unions that expose girls to violence and limit economic prospects.
“FGM and child marriage are violations of human rights that must be eliminated. Accelerating progress is critical to achieving gender equality and ensuring every girl has the chance to thrive,” it states.
Kenya’s progress has been credited to three factors: a strong legal framework, partnerships with local elders and religious leaders, and alternative rites of passage programmes led by women’s groups. In Kajiado and West Pokot, community dialogues have helped shift perceptions, with chiefs and morans (young men) publicly declaring abandonment of the practice.
Still, gaps remain. Enforcement of the anti-FGM law is uneven, with reports of cross-border cutting in areas along the Kenya–Tanzania and Kenya–Uganda borders.
“Legislation alone is insufficient. Lasting change requires education, economic opportunities, and community engagement to challenge deep-rooted norms,” the report emphasises.
Education is emerging as the most powerful tool in ending both FGM and child marriage. Evidence shows that girls who complete secondary school are significantly less likely to undergo cutting or marry early.
“Ensuring girls remain in school is a critical pathway to ending harmful practices. Investments in education, particularly in rural and marginalised communities, will yield dividends for generations,” the UN observes.
With only five years to go before the 2030 deadline, Kenya’s challenge now is speed. The country must not only sustain its gains but drastically accelerate interventions. This means scaling up successful community models, tightening enforcement in border zones, and ensuring adequate funding for girl-centred education and health programs.
“Progress is possible, but not inevitable. The elimination of FGM and child marriage requires urgent, sustained and scaled action.”
