Bungoma
By Tony Wafula
Herbalist, initiators have greatly differed concerning the August male circumcision fete which many has proposed to be pushed to 2022 amid Covid-19 pandemic.
Sources reveal that some parents have started circumcising boys something that elders have taken it as a curse.
In a press conference today July, 16, 2020, Dr. Michael Misiko a herbalist also a Luhya elder blamed initiators who are circumcising boys something which have been termed as going a against the law.
‘’Its really bad to ignore the government’s directives in combating the spread of Covid-19, during this fete many people meet to sing, dance and drink local brew together something that was blacklisted by the ministry of health with fear of spreading Coronavirus,’’ he said.
He lauded the move by the government of Kenya in putting in place the guidelines which will help in controlling the spread of the virus.
‘’I know that President Uhuru Kenyatta partially opened the economy of this country it doesn’t mean that he allowed us to carry out circumcision, please lets avoid this thing of hiding and being trick by money thirty initiators who don’t even know our culture,’’ he warned.
‘’Some initiators are after money, in fact they deliver poor services whenever given an opportunity condemn them,’’ he said.
He said that whenever there is crisis during the circumcision year the fete is always pushed a head to avoid losing lives and curses.
‘’Like in 1938 there was no circumcision fete that took place because there was war and many people lost lives traditionally its considered as a cursed year,’’ he said.
Misiko says circumcision is a rite of passage in traditional African communities and people should avoid bringing in their own dirty beliefs accusing those individuals who met, slaughtered a cow pretending to convince the community that there will be no harm to our boys when circumcised.
‘’Those who have already circumcised their boys they are against the law,’’ he said, adding the best circumcision should be done in 2022.
County Commissioners and local administration have been called to arrest those who are behind breaking the law.
‘’I plead to our chiefs to work closely with parents, initiators and County government to ensure that they enforce tight law in our communities that carry out circumcision,’’ he said.
However, added that circumcision fete attracts many people from different parts who converge together sing, drink local liquor ‘’Busaa’’ saying that it is one way of spreading Covid-19.
‘’Some of our friends and relatives are in areas which have been mapped to be corona virus hotspots and if we continue behaving this way then Covid-19 will wipe all of us,’’ he said.
I call upon County ECE for gender, culture and sports Mrs. Everlyne Kakai her staff, chiefs and Bungoma county initiators chairman Sinino wa Omukolongolo to be on the forefront to stop circumcision of our boys.
Ends
