According to the latest Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), Kericho County teenage pregnancy rate stands at 21% among vulnerable young girls, especially those with lower education levels, which is significantly higher than the national average of 15%.
Bomet County is at 24 percent, Kajiado (20), Nandi (16), while Uasin Gishu county is at 22 percent in teenage pregnancies.
Speaking in Kericho hotel, Janet Lunayo from the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) emphasized the need for collective action in the fight against GBV, which is also linked to rise in teenage pregnancies.
“Teenage pregnancy is not just a health issue; it also affects education, economic progress and the overall well-being of young girls. When a girl becomes pregnant at a young age, her future is often compromised,” Lunayo stated.
The NCPD official said that among those with no formal education, 38% of them have experienced pregnancy, while the rate drops to 5% for those with education beyond secondary school.
“There is a direct link between teenage pregnancy and HIV infections, with adolescent mothers facing a higher risk of contracting HIV due to limited access to reproductive health services and increased vulnerability to sexual exploitation. These statistics show that young women account for a significant percentage of new HIV cases in the country,” she noted.
“Gender-based violence, GBV, remains a pressing concern, with nearly half of survivors in Kericho not seeking help or reporting abuse. Data reveals that 45% of women in the county believe that wife-beating is sometimes justified, reflecting deep-rooted cultural attitudes that make it harder for survivors to come forward,” she observed.
Lunayo urged policymakers to invest in education, healthcare, and community outreach programs to curb teenage pregnancies and break the cycle of HIV and GBV.
“We need to empower young girls with knowledge and resources to make informed decisions about their health and future,” Lunayo emphasized.
The Kericho County Director of Healthcare Dr. Betty Lang’at noted that the triple threat happens mostly outside hospitals, making prevention and community engagement critical.
“Gender-based violence plays a significant role in teenage pregnancies. Many girls do not get pregnant by choice, but because of coercion, abuse, and lack of awareness about their rights,” she said.
The family planning methods remain a challenge; despite progress in contraceptive use, 63% of married women in Kenya use some form of contraception, while only 57% rely on modern methods such as injectables, implants and pills, added Dr. Langat.
“In Kericho, the unmet need for family planning stands at 17%, indicating gaps in access to reproductive health services,” she remarked.
Meanwhile, health officials and community leaders are being called upon to strengthen policies that protect adolescent girls.
As the crisis deepens, targeted interventions are crucial to ensuring a safer, healthier future for young women in Kericho and beyond.
By Dominic Cheres and Collins Bett
