The rush for the cut began on Monday after researchers tabled evidence at a conference in Kisumu, showing that male circumcision reduced HIV infections by 60 per cent.

On Tuesday, a senior surgeon at the Nyanza Provincial Hospital Otieno Obondi said with the 60 per cent increase in number of those seeking the operation the drive could be disastrous, unless the campaigners worked closely with surgeons.

Queues are growing and health workers are calling for provision of more surgical facilities as the number of men seeking circumcision soared in Kisumu.

A day after Prime Minister Raila Odinga launched a campaign to have Luo men circumcised to help contain the spread of HIV, several people reported to local health facilities for the cut.

Fragile issue

"This is a fragile surgical issue and not a socio-cultural and political matter as some people may perceive it. It is the surgeons and hospital staff who will ensure the safety of the patients," Obondi said.

He added: "It is not how many people are circumcised but how safe they will be after undergoing the operation."

Private hospitals charge Sh2, 000 per operation while the fees is lower in Government hospitals.

Some NGOs are carrying out the exercise free of charge. Others even give incentives for those brave enough to face the knife.

Obondi said there was a risk of many people, especially those in the rural areas, turning to quacks for the cut.

"We must plan for the post-operation care and that is why surgeons must be involved in the campaign," he added.

Obondi disclosed they were handling between six to ten cases a day.

A spot check by The Standard found many young people queuing to be circumcised at the Lumumba Health Centre and other hospitals.

Mr Kennedy Onyango, found on the queue at Lumumba health centre said his girlfriend had given him a condition to face the knife or they split. Obondi said some NGOs might attempt to turn their offices into circumcision centres to attract funding.

Personal decision

While launching the Voluntary Male Circumcision campaign in Kisumu on Monday, Raila said the issue was not communal, but a personal issue.

He said male cut would not erode the community’s cultural heritage as it was purely a medical issue and should not be entangled in cultural politics.

Prof Kawango Agot of the Nyanza Reproductive Health Society disclosed that 15 per cent of uncircumcised men were at a higher risk of contracting HIV than those cut.

On Monday, Assistant Ministers Oburu Odinga and Ayiecho Olweny said they would be circumcised next week to bolster the campaign.

Several MPs supported the campaign but called for urgent installation of surgical facilities in public hospitals.

MPs Jakoyo Midiwo, Pollyns Ochieng’, Olago-Aluoch, Shakeel Shabir and Fred Outa also asked the Government to post more medical officers to the health facilities.

"We must now equip our health centres if this campaign is to succeed. We must avoid a situation where our people die after visiting quacks," said Mr Outa, the MP for Nyando.

He added: "It is not Raila pushing us to get circumcised. We are doing it after seeing scientific findings."

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