The Story of Woman in Kenya part 1: FGM/C and The Untapped Potential of Women

May 21, 2025

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This special three-part series brings The Story of Woman podcast on location in Kenya to explore female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). Host Anna Stoecklein partners with Kenyan journalist Evelyn Wambui and international NGO Orchid Project, traveling to rural Maasai villages and urban Nairobi to delve into the hearts and minds of community leaders, activists, and survivors, bringing you the human stories behind the headlines and statistics.

This powerful first episode explores how this millennia-old practice affects 230 million women and girls worldwide through intimate conversations with survivors from two distinct Kenyan communities with dramatically different experiences – the Maasai showing promising progress and the Somali community where challenges persist.

Through firsthand accounts of physical trauma, educational barriers, and remarkable resilience, the episode reveals both the devastating impacts of FGM/C and the extraordinary women leading the movement to bring it to an end.

Content Warning

This series includes discussions of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), including personal accounts of physical and emotional trauma. These stories may be distressing or triggering for some listeners. Please take care while listening.

Topics Covered

Beyond the headlines: Survivors share personal stories and lifelong impacts
An ancient practice: FGM/C’s 2,000-year history across 94+ countries
A tale of two communities: Why one Kenyan community is progressing while another resists change
Breaking misconceptions: Why FGM/C isn't simply a "women's issue" but affects entire communities and economies
The limits of law: Why Kenya’s anti-FGM/C legislation isn’t enough
Women leading change: How survivors turn trauma into powerful advocacy
The untapped potential: What’s lost when girls are cut, married young, and denied opportunity

Some names have been changed to protect the identities of individuals featured in this episode.

Featured Voices

Survivors & Activists

Fariha: survivor turned activist from the Somali community
Christine: survivor turned activist from the Maasai community
Anne/"Mama Kijiji": the only female elder in her Maasai community, working to end FGM/C for 20 years
Saitoti: Maasai community leader using music to advocate against FGM/C

Experts

Sean Callaghan (Orchid Project): Head of Research and Capacity Strengthening
Kirigo Njenga (Orchid Project): Advocacy Officer
Evelyn Wambui: Field producer and translator for this series

Partner Organizations

Orchid Project: International NGO working at the forefront of the global movement to create a world free from FGM/C.
COVAW (Coalition on Violence Against Women): National non-profit women’s rights organization responding to the silence of the Kenyan society in addressing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).
Brighter Society Initiative: Local Kenya NGO that works to empower the society beyond violence.

Transcription is available here

Support the Movement:

This series was created in partnership with Orchid Project, an international NGO working to end FGM/C globally. If you'd like to become part of the movement to end FGM/C and support the vital work that Orchid Project is doing, please consider making a donation. No matter how small, your contribution will help to create a future where women and girls live free from FGM/C.

👉 Donate here

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Music credit:

“Ethereal Relaxation” Kevin MacLeod

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/