Nairobi — Eighty girls who were to be forcibly circumcised in Marakwet District have been rescued in the last six months.

They have been staying at Kapsowar Girls Secondary School with the help from 15 non-governmental organisations fighting the practice.

Mrs Mary Justa, the secretary-general of Kenya National Council on Traditional Practice which brings together the 15 NGOs, said the girls aged between 12 and 16 years were now benefiting from the Government's policy of free primary education. Others were in local secondary schools.

Cabinet minister Linah Kilimo is the NGOs' patron while Mrs Alicen Chelaite, the assistant minister for Gender and Sports is a member.

Mrs Justa, who was addressing a seminar in Eldoret at the weekend, said another 600 girls who became sickly after being circumcised had been treated by the African Medical Research Foundation.

The Kenya National Council on Traditional Practice, which was started in 1985 by former National Council of Women leader Jane Kirui, brings together other NGOs to avoid duplication of duties.

Mrs Justa said Administration police had helped in stumping out the practice and the number of cases had dropped in most parts of the country except in Kuria District.