Nairobi — One hundred and fifty five under-age girls underwent female genital mutilation (FGM) in Marakwet District last month, a human rights report indicates.

The report released by the Eldoret based Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (CHRD) shows Kipyego division led with 58 girls reported to have undergone the rite.

In Kapsowar division, 20 girls were circumcised while in Tot division, 38 girls underwent the rite of passage.

The report signed by the CHRD Programme Officer in charge of FGM, Ms Mariam Suleiman, however, shows a decline in the number of girls under-going FGM in the district.

"More than 1,300 under-age girls in the district underwent FGM in December 2001 compared to 155 girls last December," said Suleiman.

She attributed the decline to the presence of monitors trained by the CHRD to keep a constant watch on those involved in the out-dated rite.

Suleiman said the CHRD was going to step-up its efforts in fighting FGM not only in Marakwet District but in other parts of the North-Rift region.

"Our efforts have paid dividends in Keiyo District where no single FGM case was reported last December," she said.

Suleiman further urged the Government to develop and implement a network policy on FGM eradication in the country.