ActionAid Kenya, with funding from the European Union in Kenya and grant management support from UNFPA Kenya, is scaling up targeted, community-driven interventions to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) through the Komesha FGM Sasa project. The funding is enabling ActionAid Kenya and its partners to strengthen prevention, protection, and response mechanisms in counties with high FGM prevalence by investing directly in locally led solutions.
The three-year project is being implemented in Isiolo, Garissa, Marsabit, Wajir, Tharaka Nithi, West Pokot, and Elgeyo Marakwet counties. In these regions, the initiative supports sustained community engagement aimed at transforming harmful social norms, increasing awareness of the health and human rights impacts of FGM, and strengthening community accountability to protect girls and women from the practice.
“Ending FGM requires community ownership and leadership. Through Komesha FGM Sasa, we are investing in trusted local partners who understand their contexts and are best placed to lead change,” said Samson Orao, Executive Director, ActionAid Kenya.
Through Komesha FGM Sasa, ActionAid Kenya is working with grassroots organizations that are deeply rooted in their communities. In Garissa’s Lagdera Sub-county, the project is supporting the Pastoralist Education Development Organization and the Northern Aid Development Agency to lead community dialogues and awareness campaigns. In Wajir East, Women Organizing Women Networking and the Pastoralist Women Network Initiative are mobilizing women and youth groups, engaging religious and traditional leaders, and strengthening local surveillance and referral systems.
In Isiolo Sub-county, Zzuri Kenya and Burat Men for Change are engaging men and boys as allies in ending FGM and promoting positive masculinity. In Tharaka Nithi’s Chuka-Igambang’ombe area, Tumaini Africa and Wake and Shine are implementing community-based prevention initiatives. In Marsabit South, Isogargaro Women Empowerment CBO and Feiyah Action Network are strengthening survivor support systems and community-led advocacy.
In West Pokot’s Pokot Central Sub-county, Blossom Beyond Borders and Ripot CBO are facilitating community conversations and working with local leadership to promote the abandonment of FGM, while in Elgeyo Marakwet East, Neema Foundation and Atega Empowerment Group are supporting prevention campaigns and survivor referral pathways.
Overall, the Komesha FGM Sasa project is expanding access to health, legal, and psychosocial services for survivors, strengthening coordination with government institutions, and supporting the enforcement of Kenya’s anti-FGM laws. The project also prioritizes learning and evidence-building to inform policy advocacy and ensure sustainable, long-term impact.
By combining support from the European Union in Kenya, UNFPA Kenya’s grant management expertise, and the leadership of community-based organizations, ActionAid Kenya is reinforcing locally led, sustainable action to end FGM. The project underscores a shared commitment to ensuring that girls and women across Kenya can live free from violence, harmful practices, and discrimination
Author: Ezra Kiriago ,Communications Coordinator ActionAid Kenya.