Kwale men have been warned against preying on schoolgirls and impregnating them.
The fresh warning comes after a Grade 2 pupil was reported to have become pregnant.
The region has been recording a rise in cases of teenage pregnancy since January, with at least seven cases reported each month.
Matuga deputy county commissioner Alexander Mativo said anyone found to have impregnated a schoolgirl shall be sentenced to not less than 20 years in prison.
“The moment you destroy a child’s life, know that the law awaits you. You will get severe punishment and a long jail term,” he said.
Mativo said teenage pregnancy has become a major headache.
During the 2020 KCPE and KCSE exams, more than 10 girls gave birth while sitting their tests.
Earlier, 10 schoolgirls were rescued from forced early marriages in the region by rights organisations.
When they were rescued, most had already given birth, while others were pregnant.
The trend of teenage pregnancies and marriages in Kwale has been attributed to poor parenting.
Sauti Ya Wanawake officer Dina Otieno said most parents consent to early marriages.
Some introduce their young daughters to sex work so they can help put food on the table for their families. Others marry off the girls after they get pregnant.
Mativo said every child deserves an education, and pregnancy should not be used as an excuse to shut down a girl’s dream.
Governor Salim Mvurya cautioned students against engaging in drugs and early sexual activities.
“Your main task is books and studies. We expect you to work hard and stay away from unnecessary things,” he said.
The two spoke at Kwale Girls High School while chairing a bursary programme for 261 needy students who qualified for the Wings to Fly and Elimu scholarship sponsored by Equity Bank.
More than 22,000 students will be joining various secondary schools in Kwale this week.
Edited by A.N
