During August, thousands of boys aged between 10 and 18 undergo male circumcision in Western Kenya, an painful ritual that is viewed as an important rite of passage within local communities. The pictures show the ceremony being carried out by a traditional circumciser in Shinyalu, Kakamega.
Earlier this month, reports emerged from from the country of circumcision being inflicted on men in the nearby town of Moi’s Bridge, a ceremony reportedly carried out against the victims' will.
According to the IBT, twelve men were seized and subjected to the unnecessary and painful procedure after it was revealed by their wives that they had not been circumcised.
West FM reported that crowds cheered and sang songs as the men were rounded up and taken to a nearby medical facility. “We are happy with the move to have such men cut because uncircumcised men are dirty and do not perform well in bed and thus we are sure their wives will now enjoy their marriages,' said one of the witnesses to the ceremony.
Male Circumcision In Kenya
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Open Image ModalA boy cries before being circumcised in Shinyalu, in Kakamega, on August 8, 2014. (credit:SIMON MAINA via Getty Images)
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Open Image ModalIsaac Arema Shiboya (C), a traditional circumciser, is followed by boys as he prepares to perform an operation in Shinyalu, in Kakamega, on August 8, 2014. (credit:SIMON MAINA via Getty Images)
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Open Image ModalIsaac Arema Shiboya (R), a traditional circumciser, escorted by his son Shikobolo Shiboya, prepares to perform an operation on boys in Shinyalu, in Kakamega, on August 8, 2014. (credit:SIMON MAINA via Getty Images)
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Open Image ModalIsaac Arema Shiboya, a traditional circumciser, prepares his scalpel to perform an operation on boys in Shinyalu, in Kakamega, on August 8, 2014. During this month, thousands of boys aged between 10 and 18 undergo male circumcision something that is seen as an important rite of passage into manhood among their communities. (credit:SIMON MAINA via Getty Images)
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Open Image ModalIsaac Arema Shiboya, a traditional circumciser, holds his scalpel shotly after performing an operation on boys in Shinyalu, in Kakamega, on August 8, 2014. (credit:SIMON MAINA via Getty Images)