Thirty teenage girls from one location in Baringo County were confirmed pregnant.
Local leaders and Baringo county area leaders are concerned that the numbers could be more as most cases are not reported once identified.
Resistance to adopting Sex Education is a guarantee that we will remain stuck in this horrific cycle.
So, why is the Government still sleeping on already existing policies and guidelines?
Most of these unfortunate events have a lot to do with the difficult circumstances in their lives.
“Mzazi hakuna kitu anafanya utapata analala asubuhi hadi jioni, pombe na mchicha ndiyo iko hapa kijiji, si ati hatuwaheshimu wazazi, ni vile tu sasa hawawezi kutusaidia sisi watoto,” says an 8-year-old pupil.
“Jamaa alininunulia chupi ya ndani, akanipea mia mbili nikanunua skirt, akanipea tena mia mbili niknunua shati…so huyo ndiyo atanisaidia,” adds another.
According to these underage girls, some of their friends have more than three men. While one fulfills a certain need, the others get to fulfil the rest.
All the girls have to do is sexually engage with the men who are either boda boda riders, businessmen and sometimes their fellow schoolmates.
A majority of them have opted to get married as a way to escape the poverty at home.
And as village elders, chiefs and other parents engage these young girls on how best to resolve their issues, there still remains a challenge as some among them have found themselves at the mercy of men who have forced themselves on them.
“Wasichana wengi hawajui ata mimba ni ya nani, wasichana wanafaa kureport hizi cases ndiyo tuwachukulie hatua wale wanawadhulumu,” said Perkerra Assistant Chief Martha Chebii.
As more of our children get pregnant, there has to be rising concerns on how agencies refused to implement the Kenya National School Health Policy.
This is despite the fact that the accompanying National School Health Guidelines cover the very issues now being cited as gaps in fighting teenage pregnancy.
Then, there’s the Standards and Guidelines for Reducing Morbidity and Mortality from Unsafe Abortion.
Since many are triggered by the word abortion in the title of the document, they fail to realise that the document squarely tackles teenage pregnancy by providing effective and research-based preventive alternatives.
Something has to be done as soon as possible, my worry is by who? Because, everyone seems to be only concerned on how schools can be reopened for “exams”.
