Teenage pregnancies have been a great concern for the country’s leadership, hence the need to curb the menace by all means.
Consequently, female youth leaders in parliament pitched tents in Kirinyaga County in a campaign aimed at reducing teenage pregnancies in the area.
Led by Kirinyaga Women Representative Jane Njeri, her Bomet counterpart Linet Chepkorir, and nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba, the trio raised alarm over increased teenage pregnancies countrywide.
Speaking at Mugumo Girls High School in Gichugu Constituency, Orwoba said her campaign, dubbed, End Period Poverty, is determined to see all girls access sanitary towels free of charge.
According to the senator, young girls from humble backgrounds fall victim to men in order to get funds for the purchase of sanitary towels, leading to increased cases of school dropouts.
“Our girls fall prey to men in exchange for sanitary pads, but we are saying this should come to an end. We no longer want to see our girls drop out of school because of early pregnancies,” Orwoba noted.
She said her intention was to see girls as successful members of society as well as occupying critical positions in the leadership of the country.
The senator told female students to be proud of their monthly period, as this was a natural biological process that is experienced by all women worldwide.
Orwoba added that the allocation of Sh. 940 million in the current budget towards the purchase of sanitary pads is an indication that the government is supporting the girls.
“Don’t be ashamed because of the period. It is a natural process that happens to every woman. The government is putting efforts into ensuring every child gets a sanitary towel, and in this financial year’s budget they have allocated Sh. 940 million,” she added.
On her part, the host MP, Njeri, said her “Triple Threat” campaign, which seeks to end teenage pregnancies among others, has reached over 50 schools in the county.
She said her team will ensure that no child misses school simply because of lack of sanitary pads.
“We have reached over 50 schools, in Kirinyaga County in our mission to create awareness in three major areas: gender-based violence, teen pregnancy, and mental health,” said Njeri.
“Senator Orwoba’s Pad Drive program is also here in Kirinyaga today, and we will fully support it, even as the current budget proposes funds for pads for the school-going girls,” she said.
The female representative encouraged students to be respectful to parents and teachers because they will soon occupy that position themselves.
“Respect your parents and teachers, Njeri will exit leadership, and you are the one to take over; please work hard,” she added.
At the same time, Chepkorir, the youngest MP of the 13th Parliament, encouraged the students, noting that everything was possible if only they worked hard.
“I want to thank my fellow leaders for the encouragement they are giving to our girls; we have similar programs in Bomet County that endeavor to end early pregnancies,” said Chepkorir.
During the event, the leaders distributed pads to girls from Kiburia, Mugumo, Thumaita, and Kabare secondary schools.
By Mutai Kipngetich
