Raila Odinga: Why Male Circumcision is Not Significant

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has explained that male circumcision is not that significant to determining a person's status in society.

Speaking during the launch of the Busia County recruitment initiative on Monday, January 15, Raila insisted that male circumcision exercise should not be used to block some individuals from accessing certain privileges.

While referring to some Bantu communities, the opposition leader indicated that some people were considered immature for not being circumcised. Others were even considered not fit to hold positions of power, Raila added.

He, however, dismissed the claims insisting that the right of passage was only introduced in Kenya through religion and it is not mandatory.

Raila further hit out at individuals using circumcision to measure maturity as fools.

"Circumcision is only a Kenyan Bantu thing. It is a trivial matter that came with religion. It was introduced in Kenya to the Bantus through religion. Bantus in DRC do not circumcise same as in Cameroon and South Africa. Anyone that takes circumcision seriously is a fool," Raila stated amidst applause from the crowd.

Raila explained that initially even grown-ups were being forced to undergo circumcision or risk being banished from the community. This according to Azimio leader created division.

Raila made the statements after local leaders asked him to push for the creation of more devolved units in the region. He told the leaders that the issue of circumcision contributed to the separation of powers and regions.

Nonetheless, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader vowed to address the matter at the national level.

Moreover, he appealed to residents to register with the ODM party to increase its bargaining powers ahead of the 2027 polls.