A 65-year-old woman is being held by police in Bomet after her attempts to circumcise five girls in Longisa division was foiled.

APs acting on a tip off from members of the public laid an ambush at Chelemei Village and last night nabbed the suspect, her aides, the girls' mothers and the girls themselves.

Chief Philip Chelule said the girls were being forced toundergo the rite.

"These girls are aged between 13 and 17years of age. They are in Chelemei primary school and some of them are candidates next year," he said.

Chelule said some of the arrested women were from neighboring Narok South district and were there as aides to the circumciser.

"This woman has become a headache in the fight against FGM in this region. Her arrest is a relief to us all since residents have complained that she has been instrumental in convincing mothers to force their daughters undergo the cut," he said.

Bomet OCPD Henrieta Muyanje confirmed the arrest and said police were conducting investigation into the circumciser and her activities.

Doctors at Longisa District Hospital confirmed that two of the rescued girls had already received the cut and Muyanje said the circumciser together with the girls' mothers will be charged.

Director of Children services in Bomet County Dancan Ngeno said FGM is outlawed in the country since it goes against children's rights as stipulated in the Children's Act.