Igembe woman apprehended after daughter succumbed to deadly illegal cut

A woman was on Friday arrested in Igembe Central after her daughter, 17, succumbed from complications arising from female genital mutilation (FGM).

Meru County Health Chief Officer Kanana Kimonye said the girl suffered from diabetes which made treatment of her wound difficult.

The girl, a mother of one who was married off early, died on Wednesday the same day she was admitted unconscious at the Muthara Sub County Hospital.

“The patient was brought to Muthara hospital unconscious and on investigation she was found to have diabetes type 1. The diabetes was diagnosed earlier but had stopped taking medication.

Health workers tried to control the sugar but it was not possible because she had a septic wound due to FGM. This is because diabetes complicates wounds and wounds complicate diabetes,” Dr Kimonye said on Friday.

The doctor said their attempts to help the girl regain consciousness were futile because of the infection.

Muthara hospital superintendent Geoffrey Koome said the girl’s guardian did not inform the hospital of the wound which was discovered during treatment. 

“We did our best to manage the patient but the situation was complicated by severe sepsis,” Dr Koome said.

An elder from Kaumone village where the girl lived, Mr John Mungiiria, said she was likely circumcised on Sunday and fell ill three days later.

“I received a tip-off from neighbours before I engaged the authorities leading to the arrest of the mother. We are now pursuing the circumciser. FGM is a top secret operation that needs more government effort to tame in this area,” Mr Kubai said.

Mr Kithela Kubai, an anti-FGM activist, said the girl identified as Purity Kathela, was picked up from her matrimonial home by her biological mother, Ms Asha Mwathimba, before she underwent the rite.