The Forum for African Women Educational-Kenya chapter has started a campaign to curb the rising rates of teenage pregnancy, HIV prevalence and sexual and gender-based violence in Siaya county.
Siaya is ranked fourth in teenage pregnancy in Kenya, third in HIV prevalence and has a 50 per cent rate of sexual and gender-based violence. This is according to the Demographic Health Survey 2023.
The statistics have prompted Fawe-K to start the campaign to support and rescue girls who have fallen victim and have dropped out of school.
Everline Amunga, the project coordinator of the programme dubbed “Imarisha Msichana” said they have identified areas and schools prone to high dropout rates. The programme is being implemented by Mastercard.
Amunga said the project aims to achieve a zero percent rate of teenage pregnancy and early marriages in Siaya by 2030. The initiative is being supported by the county government and various stakeholders.
The coordinator said they are working with administration officers and the police to identify young mothers in villages, whose education has been interrupted due to early pregnancy.
She said many schools in the county have agreed to readmit young mothers to help them realise their future dreams by ensuring they complete their education and progress to higher levels.
“We are asking the community to also help us identify some of these vulnerable girls for the purpose of empowering them,” Amunga said.
She said this will help erase stigma among the community and the public at large, as it will be seen as a welcoming move by the community towards young mothers.
Amunga said even educational institutions sometimes tend to stigmatise such teenagers, but with the help of counsellors and school clubs, they have managed to control such eventualities.
Siaya county director of youth affairs, gender and social services Myda Nyawade said teenage pregnancy in Siaya is a menace that requires a combative approach.
The director said it is through such organisations and efforts that will ensure schoolgirls do not fall victim to early pregnancies and marriages.
Nyawade said if such girls are not readmitted back to school with the help of the county government and other stakeholders, then they will be perpetuating a cycle of poverty in society.
“Yes, the situation is dire in Siaya county, but as a county, we are moving with speed to ensure such loopholes of such percentages are sealed to have a good society,” Nyawade said.
