FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NAIROBI, KENYA, 7 October 2020

Court case challenging the constitutional validity of Kenya’s Anti-FGM Act in court for final submissions

On 8 October 2020, the Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA) and Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV & AIDS (KELIN) will return to court as joint amicus curiae in the case where Dr Tatu Kamau, as the Petitioner, is challenging the constitutional validity of the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act, simply known as the Anti-FGM Act. The case began in October 2019 before the Constitutional Division of the High Court in Kenya.

The matter resumes virtually before Justice Lydia Achode, Justice Kanyi Kimondo and Justice Margaret Muigai as directed by the Deputy Registrar of the Court.

Dr Kamau filed a petition seeking a declaration from the Court that the Anti-FGM Act is unconstitutional for being in violation of adult consenting women’s right to culture, health and equality. However, ISLA and KELIN’s amici curiae submission demonstrates that in enacting the Anti-FGM Act, Kenya has acted in line with the International standards requiring it to enact gender sensitive legislation to prevent, protect against and respond to FGM.

Legal counsel in the matter are due to make final oral submissions before the Court tomorrow. The parties have filed their final written submissions in the matter and will use the limited time allocated by the Court to highlight sections of these written submissions.

To contribute to the discussion and for live updates follow ISLA & KELIN on our social media platforms: Twitter: @ISLAfrica @KELINkenya using hashtag #EndFGM#Don’tTouchFGMLAw#Justice2Health

For further enquiries kindly contact:

Matilda Lasseko

ISLA’s Violence Against Women Lawyer

Tel: +27 72 740 1764

Email: matilda@the-isla.org

Carolene Kituku

Counsel for ISLA and KELIN

Tel: +254 71 026 1408

Email: ckituku@kelinkenya.org

Katherine Karambu

Communications Officer (KELIN).

Cell: +254 72 461 7198

Email: kkarambu@kelinkenya.org

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