Leaders from Trans Nzoia County have called for urgent measures to help curb rising cases of teenage pregnancies.
Speaking during the launch of the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) bursary programme at St. Monica Girls High School in Kitale, Trans Nzoia Women Representative, Lilian Siyoi, emphasised the need to safeguard young girls from early pregnancies.
Siyoi urged parents, government agencies, and the community at large to take proactive roles in protecting underage girls, emphasising that a collective effort from all stakeholders is essential to achieving desired results.
“Parents have a big responsibility to ensure their children’s well-being. Neglect and abuse within families contribute significantly to the crisis. There have been instances where parents have molested their own children.
This is unacceptable and we must ensure that children, especially girls, are safe at home and in school. Parents must take their role seriously and provide for their children’s basic needs to prevent them from falling into traps set by exploitative individuals,” said Siyoi.
Echoing her sentiments, Trans Nzoia County Gender Coordinator Linet Moyabi urged the government to come up with stricter legislation and strengthen existing policies for the fight against early pregnancies to achieve desired results.
She insisted that offenders must be prosecuted and punished accordingly to serve as a deterrent to others.
“The government should put in place firm policies to curb early pregnancies among school-going children. Those responsible must face the full force of the law. We cannot allow a situation where young girls are exploited and left to struggle with early motherhood,” she said.
The leaders further emphasized the importance of education as a tool to empower young girls and keep them focused on their future.
They lauded the NGAAF Bursary Programme, which has so far benefitted more than 561 students in Trans Nzoia County, enabling them to continue their education despite financial challenges.
However, Siyoi decried inadequate funding, noting that the total NGAAF budget for Trans Nzoia County for the entire year is only Sh 6 million.
She urged the national government to consider channelling more resources directly to schools to expand the reach of the programme and support more students.
“The funds allocated to my office are limited. If the government can send the money directly to schools, it will ensure that more students benefit. Education is a key pillar in transforming society, and we must prioritise it,” she stated.
The event brought together education stakeholders, parents, and local leaders who vowed to collaborate in addressing teenage pregnancies and ensure that more girls complete their education without disruption.
The call for action comes amid growing concerns over the rising number of school dropouts due to early pregnancies, with leaders emphasising the need for collective responsibility in tackling the issue.
According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022, statistics indicate that 15 per cent of Kenyan women aged between 15 and 19 had been pregnant, with a drop of 3 per cent being registered compared to a similar survey done in 2014.
The report singled out poverty and lack of education as key contributing factors, where 16 per cent of teenagers had been pregnant in rural areas compared to 12.3 per cent of teenagers had been pregnant in urban areas.
Other contributing factors mentioned were early sexual debut, child marriage, gender-based violence, inadequate access to sexual and reproductive health services, and child marriage, among others.
By Isaiah Nayika and Ian Gachugu
