National News
PM acts on thorny ‘cut’ issue
Updated on: Sunday, September 14, 2008
Story by: By FREDRICK ODIERO and
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has announced a major consultative forum in Nyanza to deliberate on the controversial male circumcision that has been recommended by experts as a means of reducing HIV infection. The meeting in two weeks time in Kisumu to discuss the controversial male circumcision in Luo Nyanza will involve all the stakeholders. Raila said the meeting will be attended by the Council of Elders, youths and medical experts to deliberate on the issue.
He said the medical experts will present the scientific evidence that a male circumcised is less prone to attracting HIV/Aids. He said the issue has been blown out of proportion for no apparent reason noting that the meeting will come up with a way forward. Speaking in Nyakach Constituency during their cultural festival, Raila however said the exercise is voluntary and nobody will be forced to face the cut. He said people who are forcing others to go for the cut will be arrested.
Raila told the Luo community that culture is not static but dynamic and urged the community to retain good culture but discard detrimental ones. Meanwhile, the PM has reiterated that teachers must sign performance contracts for effectiveness. Raila said teachers are just like other workers in the country who have signed the performance contact. He said teachers will not be intimidated and urged them to embrace performance contracting.
He said promotion of teachers will be pegged on their performance. Speaking in Nyakach during a cultural festival, Raila warned students violence in schools. He urged teachers to dialogue with students to prevent cases of unrest that have rocked most schools in the country of late. Meanwhile, Raila was yesterday asked to allow democracy to prevail in the Orange Democratic Movement by letting the pro-Grand Coalition Opposition government by crusaders champion their cause.
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Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:12:48 +0000
From: Nicholas Mireri
Subject: Pala:Cut or not cut referundum in Luo Nyanza
There is nothing wrong with the “cut”. The original Luo’s who still lived in Sudan practice circumcision. Luo’s in Kenya seem to have lost it along the way.
Luo’s in Sudan perform the cut then spend 2 weeks in the forest to learn warfare.
Fact -> Circumcision should be a personal Decision
Fact -> Circumcision does not prevent HIV/AIDS
Fact -> Circumcision is a cultural practice, nothing more, nothing less.