{"id":662405,"date":"2019-07-23T06:48:53","date_gmt":"2019-07-23T06:48:53","guid":{"rendered":"
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The desire to be a part of the Pokot culture in Kenya has brought a lot of anger towards American missionary Trizah Estes and her husband Tony Estes who decided to go through all the traditional Pokot wedding rites including the banned female genital mutilation (FGM).<\/p>\n

The traditionally wedded couple who has lived in Paka Hills in Tiati, Baringo County, for 10 years is being criticized for contravening Kenya\u2019s Act (2011) which criminalizes the execution, procurement, and providing a space for FGM.<\/p>\n

Trizah Estes was alleged to have undergone the FGM in a video report filed by local TV channel K24 and reported by several online news sites even though\u00a0other TV channels that covered the ceremony did not state that piece of information.<\/p>\n

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April Zhu \u6731\u8438<\/strong>@aprzhu<\/a><\/p>\n

Kenya\u2019s Prohibition of FGM Act (2011) criminalizes the execution, procurement, and even providing a space for FGM. Kenyan women have been convicted and incarcerated for these crimes.<\/p>\n

So now is this American going to face charges or deportation or what? https:\/\/twitter.com\/Nairobi_News\/status\/1152873354627600384\u00a0\u2026<\/a>Nairobi News<\/strong>\u2714<\/strong>@Nairobi_NewsVIDEO: American bride \u2018undergoes FGM\u2019 in Pokot traditional wedding. https:\/\/bit.ly\/2SrngHY\u00a0<\/a>274<\/a>6:10 AM \u2013 Jul 22, 2019<\/a>Twitter Ads info and privacy<\/a>233 people are talking about this<\/a><\/p>\n

Her husband, Tony Estes, paid dowry of camel and presented food, drinks and money as part of Pokot culture before they took their vows after a long walk from the bride\u2019s adopted house to the groom\u2019s house where they drank Mursik (a traditional fermented cow or goat milk), ate camel meat amidst music and dance by dozens of locals who joined them.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been a blessing for me to be able to do this and be accepted by these people. I have been able to pay a dowry of a camel, food, drinks and also money,\u201d said Tony.<\/p>\n

The couple, who introduced Christianity and medical services to the town, were given Pokot names as a form of welcome into the tribe. \u201cThis Pokot tribe, according to Kenyans is considered as a fierce tribe but I do not find them that way at all. These are just people trying to survive, I minister to them and show them the way of God,\u201d said Trizah.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m the first known person to come and help them. You know when I first came here in 2009 there was no road but, now there is one, it used to take me about 2 days to get up here,\u201d she added in the interview with K24.<\/p>\n

Read some of the reactions to the FGM allegation.<\/p>\n

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Khatlady<\/strong>@HerStoryAfrica<\/a><\/p>\n

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A white missionary\u2026marries in a traditional pokot wedding after living & working in Kenya for 10 years\u2026thinks having his wife under go FGM is a good idea,what the fudge?@mx_chichi<\/a> @shiku_nyambura<\/a>
Angalia hawa sasahttps:\/\/nairobinews.nation.co.ke\/hashtag\/american-bride-undergoes-fgm-in-pokot-traditional-wedding-video\u00a0\u2026American bride \u2018undergoes FGM\u2019 in Pokot traditional wedding \u2013 VIDEONews,Gossip,Sports and Entertainment from Nairobi.nairobinews.nation.co.ke5<\/a>8:40 AM \u2013 Jul 22, 2019<\/a>Twitter Ads info and privacy<\/a>See Khatlady\u2019s other Tweets<\/a><\/p>\n

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Alimatu Dimonekene<\/strong>@TheAlima<\/a><\/p>\n

FGM is also ban in the US. \u2066@TonyMwebia<\/a>\u2069 \u2066@EndingFGM<\/a>\u2069 \u2066@StateHouseKenya<\/a>\u2069 American bride \u2018undergoes FGM\u2019 in Pokot traditional wedding \u2013 VIDEO \u2013 \u2066@NimkoAli<\/a>\u2069 Hope the authorities are aware of this. https:\/\/nairobinews.nation.co.ke\/editors-picks\/american-bride-undergoes-fgm-in-pokot-traditional-wedding-video\u00a0\u2026American bride \u2018undergoes FGM\u2019 in Pokot traditional wedding \u2013 VIDEONews,Gossip,Sports and Entertainment from Nairobi.nairobinews.nation.co.ke11<\/a>2:40 PM \u2013 Jul 21, 2019<\/a>Twitter Ads info and privacy<\/a>See Alimatu Dimonekene\u2019s other Tweets<\/a><\/p>\n

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MuthuiMkenya\u00a0<\/strong>@MuthuiMkenya<\/a><\/p>\n

US missionary undergoes outlawed female circumcision before saying I do in Pokot
She left tongues wagging after she underwent the outlawed Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) before walking down the aisle in a traditional ceremony.5<\/a>1:52 AM \u2013 Jul 22, 2019<\/a>Twitter Ads info and privacy<\/a>See MuthuiMkenya\u00a0\u2018s other Tweets<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u00a0Betty\u00a0\u00a0Baby Hippo<\/strong>@DoItBetty<\/a>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a0Jul 21, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n

She WHAT???!!! https:\/\/twitter.com\/ItsDavidMaina\/status\/1153006161228161024\u00a0\u2026<\/a>David Maina Ndung\u2019u<\/strong>@ItsDavidMainaAmerican missionary living in Baringo braved FGM to fulfill marriage customs of the Pokot in her traditional wedding. Couple has lived among Pokots for 10 years doing missionary work. FGM was banned in Kenya 8 years ago but communities still practice the vice in secrecy.<\/a><\/p>\n

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George Owiso<\/strong>@owisoke<\/a><\/p>\n

This negates anti FGM campaigns in Baringo and pokot which also have among the highest rates of child marriages4<\/a>7:10 PM \u2013 Jul 21, 2019<\/a>Twitter Ads info and privacy<\/a>See George Owiso\u2019s other Tweets<\/a><\/p>\n

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Jess M\u00a0<\/strong>@moongirlmusing<\/a>Replying to @NimkoAli<\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019m so confused.<\/p>\n

This woman insisted on having FGM so that she could have a traditional Pokot wedding? Is that right? Or was she told that it was a requirement?3:49 PM \u2013 Jul 21, 2019<\/a>Twitter Ads info and privacy<\/a>See Jess M\u00a0\u2018s other Tweets<\/a><\/p>\n

Source:\u00a0<\/strong>face2faceafrica.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n