Anti-female Genital Mutilation
At Shared Values Foundation, we are dedicated to protecting the bodily autonomy, dignity, and rights of women and girls in Kenya by ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Guided by leadership directly connected to national policy enforcement [our Founder serves as an Independent Director at the Anti-Female Genital Mutilation Board of Kenya] ,we bridge grassroots community action with high-level policy advocacy.
The Landscape of FGM in Kenya
While Kenya has made monumental strides in reducing FGM nationally, significant regional disparities persist.
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National Decline: The national prevalence of FGM among women aged 15–49 dropped from 37.6% in 1998 to 14.8% in 2022 (KDHS 2022).
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Public Rejection: Over 92% of women and 93% of men in Kenya believe the practice of FGM should end.
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Hotspot Vulnerabilities: Prevalence remains disproportionately high in specific counties, including Wajir (97.2%), Mandera (95.9%), Marsabit (83.0%), Garissa (82.5%), Kisii (77.3%), and Samburu (75.6%).
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Emerging Challenges: The movement faces ongoing challenges such as medicalisation (FGM performed by healthcare workers), cross-border cutting, and cutting at younger ages.
Our Strategic Impact Pillars
1. Strategic Advocacy & National Alignment
Through our founder’s appointment on the Anti-FGM Board, our programs directly support the implementation of the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act and align with national strategies to enforce zero tolerance.
2. Community Engagement & Alternative Rites of Passage (ARP)
We work alongside cultural elders, religious leaders, and women’s networks in hotspot counties to transform social norms, replacing cutting with Alternative Rites of Passage that celebrate a girl's transition into adulthood without physical harm.
3. Survivor Support & Youth Mobilization
We establish survivor-led networks and empower youth champions in secondary schools and tertiary institutions, building a movement of young advocates committed to ending FGM within their generation.
4. Rapid Response & Protection Networks
Collaborating with local administration, rescue shelters, and emergency hotlines, we assist in preventing imminent cuts and securing safe spaces for at-risk girls during high-risk seasons.