Mercy and Agnes’ Story

I came to Tasaru when I was 12 years old. I had been living with my parents and my six sisters in a manyatta with one entry and two beds. I and my younger sisters were looking after the young ones of the cows, carrying water and firewood, and helping with the children.

One Sunday our parents came and informed me and my younger sister Agnes that Wednesday would be our circumcision (FGM) day, and we should get prepared! We said, “We are still young! We don’t want to go through this!” But they told us we were grown up now, and we had to go through “the Cut”.

Our parents bought food for a big ceremony, like a party.  Family were arriving from all over. On Tuesday, the Pastor told our parents that we should not be cut. But they would not listen. So he called the Chief of the village, who was against FGM. He told us to go to the Chief’s house that night.

When it was dark, we left, one after the other, and went different ways so they would not find us. But back at home they realized we’d gone and everyone began looking.  Finally they found us in the Chief’s home. They threatened his life, and he gave us back.

Since I was the eldest, they thought it was my fault. They really beat me with anything they could find. It was terrible!

I told my sister, “Since you are the one they trust, you must convince them that we will not try to run away again.”

They woke us at six the next morning, so we could be cut before the sun rose. They sent us outside with few clothes so the cold would get into our bodies, so that we would be stiff for the cut and it would not bleed so much.

There is a belief that if you are cut before the cows are milked, you will bleed to death. At that time, we only had three cows. We knew we would be cut as soon as the third cow was milked.

We watched them milk two cows and start on the third.

Half way through the milking, a police car arrived. I was outside, still accumulating the cold. I ran for the car. But the police had to go for my sister, because the family would not let her go.

They took us to a police lady’s house. We were so scared. We didn’t know her. We didn’t trust her. But she took care of us. We remained inside her house for three days, hiding, so our family would not find us.

Finally the police took us to the Safe House where we were welcomed by all the girls. They were so kind! They gave us clothes and showers. We really felt so safe and happy!

Mercy and her sister Agnes lived at the Safe House for seven years, until they graduated high school in December, 2018. That month, Kim traveled to their family home to meet their parents and to ask for their blessing on their daughters’ college education. Gratitude flowed in all directions through the tears they shared.