The Multi-Agency select committees have been formed at every administrative unit to help tackle and curb teenage pregnancies in Murang’a County.
The committees dubbed ‘Murang’a County Emergency Committees against Teenage Pregnancies’ are expected to track and get details of all school going girls who have been impregnated.
The committees further are expected to establish a list of shame of sexual offenders who are behind the early pregnancies which has affected the lives of many underage girls.
Speaking when he met Deputy County Commissioners and Murang’a County Women Representative, Sabina Chege on Wednesday, The County Commissioner (CC), Mohammed Barre noted that the Committees will be created at all administration units right from the county to location level and interior officers in respective units will head the committees.
“The Committees will be composed of stakeholders drawn from, health, children and National Police Service departments.
“County Government, NGOs and Judiciary officials will also be represented. The committees will be on ground mission to ensure the vice is zero rated in Murang’a County from the grass-roots level. The committee will immediately kick off,” said Barre.
He stressed from the investigations they have done only 183 girls in the county have been impregnated dismissing recent figures which indicated the county has more than 4,000 cases of teenage pregnancies.
“Let it be known that the county has less than 200 cases of early pregnancies with many of the cases coming from Gatanga Sub County. The 4000 figure I don’t know how it was arrived at,” observed the CC.
Some of the cases, he noted have been reported to police and prosecution process is going on saying justice must be met on all reported cases.
He challenged parents with girls who are pregnant to report to the right authorities so as measures to help the victims are taken.
On her behalf, the Woman Rep said all those students who are pregnant will be registered under the Linda Mama programme in the county to ensure they have safe delivery.
Chege observed that she will involve lawyers from FIDA to expedite cases before court on teenage pregnancies, saying the culprits must get the right punishment.
“I advise parents whose teenage daughters are pregnant to immediately record the cases with their area Chiefs. I will engage FIDA to deal with the legal aid to bring the culprits on board,” said Chege.
She added officers from her office in partnership with other stakeholders will start visiting the affected girls at villages and offer them needed counseling and support.
Chege noted they have also resolved to establish a rescue centre within Murang’a County to cater for those girls who have been defiled, rejected at home or those who will be rescued from early marriages.
From investigations, the Women Rep noted that most of the affected girls are those who live with their grandparents challenging parents to take full responsibility for their children.
“Parents should be in forefront in taking care of their children and not leave them under the care of their aged parents,” she added.
By Bernard Munyao
