By Lauryne Akoth
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has issued a red alert to ten counties and their respective governors over the increase in teenage pregnancies.
The ten counties include Nairobi, Kakamega, Bungoma, Nakuru, Kiambu, Kilifi, Meru, Kisii, Machakos and Narok. The Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha was also issued with the red card. KHRC observed that the aforementioned received notices, indicating that proactive strategies to address teenage pregnancies per county mandates could have averted the situation.
According to the report by KHRC, Nairobi County is leading with the highest number of teenage pregnancies. The commission urged the governors of the mentioned counties to address the crisis with the necessary urgency and join forces in advocating for collective efforts to prevent teenage pregnancies in the country.
The team from KHRC, headed by Executive Director Davis Malombe, along with Deputy Executive Cornelius Odour, Program Manager Annet Nerima, and Program Advisor Furaha Charo and Robert Waweru, referenced a report from the National Syndemic Disease Control Council.
The report revealed that 696 girls were getting pregnant daily in the year 2023.
“These numbers are a result of among others, a lack of access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services and education. Health is a shared function between counties and the National government and as such, both share the blame for this crisis,” said Malombe.
KHRC also faulted the Ministry of Health for pulling out from the Eastern and Southern Regional Commitment to comprehensive sexual education in May 2023, citing that it would have mitigated unintended teenage pregnancies and reduced HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.
The commission also insisted that the Ministry of Education must guarantee unconditional admission to school for every teenage girl who becomes pregnant, along with the provision of essential psycho-social support, without any form of discrimination.
According to their report, The counties with the highest per capita contribution to teen pregnancies were Samburu 50.1, West Pokot 36.3, Marsabit 29.4, Migori 23, Kajiado 21.8, Baringo 20.3, Siaya 20.9, Taveta 18, Trans Nzoia 17.9, Isiolo 16.7 per cent respectively.
Additionally, upon examining the data from the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, the commission observed that certain teenage pregnancies resulted from factors such as poverty, sexual gender-based violence, harmful cultural practices, and the school closures experienced in 2020.
KHRC called on the Ministry of Health to recommit to the Eastern and Southern African Commitment on Comprehensive Sexual Education. They also called out Governor Kenneth Lusaka for his statement against school girls who fell pregnant and urged him to commit to facilitating their decision.
The commission concluded its report by advising parents to uphold the well-being and welfare of their children in compliance with the Children’s Act.