Atleast fifteen initiates have been reportedly died this month during circumcision in two counties in what is termed as botched circumcision.
Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet counties have reported these deaths with several others admitted in various hospitals across the counties, something that has alarmed elders in the region.
According to reports, the boys were reportedly assaulted while in seclusion that led to their injuries and worse, deaths that have shook custodians of the culture with rhe high number of complications witnessed this season.
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Elders and health officials have called for a review of this circumcision processes to improve their safety and better the places of these rites to avoid casualties and injuries during initiation thus averting botched circumcision.
One survivor who is currently undergoing medication at Burnt Forest Hospital says that one man punished him severely as a way of “hardening” him. However, Fredrick had other underlying health issues that led to his body being unable to sustain the hardening process.
Fredrick’s father says he plans to take action against the offenders as more than 50 other boys are admitted in various hospitals across the counties with more than 15 already confirmed to have lost their lives.
However, a task force has been formed in Uasin Gishu county to look into the alarming deaths during initiation and the possible intervention that will make the process safer for the young boys transitioning to adults.
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Both Luhya and Kalenjin elders have called upon their communities to ensure that only qualified people are allowed to transition these men. They have called upon a meeting to give the way forward on the matter after festivities.
Lifestyle change has attributed to most of these complications thus health experts and elders have called upon parents to give full disclosure of underlying health issues of their children before they release them to seclusion to avoid such incidents.