Cases of teen pregnancies are rising in Kwale, county gender-based violence officer Nelly Amoite says.
The region has recorded over 9,328 teen pregnancies this year, she said.
Amoite said the data was captured from the end of 2020 to December 2021.
By September 2020, Kwale had recorded a drop in teen pregnancy cases with only 2,821 cases compared to 9,000 registered in 2019.
But towards December 2020, the figures surged to 4,052, according to Coalition On Violence Against Women (Covaw) programmes officer Nancy Njeru.
Amoite attributed the rising figures to the numerous awareness and campaigns conducted against the trend unlike before when people solved the cases through the Kangaroo courts.
"The number is quite high because more people are coming out to report although the statistics are not pleasing," she said.
The officer said there are more than 312 people who contacted the department through the toll-free number to report GBV cases in the region.
Some reported in police stations and rights organisations. The rising numbers reveal that GBV and teen pregnancies still remain an issue of concern.
The commonly reported incidents are rape, teen pregnancies, incest, sodomy, and child trafficking.
She said the cases have put more pain to the victims and families, posing a great threat to the prosperity of the future generation if unstopped.
Amoite blamed poor parenting for the increasing teen pregnancies in the region.
Covaw officer Sandra Chivumbe said the majority of the teen pregnancy cases involve relatives and boda boda riders, who are the main culprits.
She said homes have become unsafe for young girls who are being preyed on by close family members.
"It is worrying a lot because most perpetrators are relatives motorbike youth come second," she said.
The cases of incest have been on a high notch in the region since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Recently, the authorities in Kwale raised a red flag over the increasing incest cases after a large number of students gave birth during the national examinations. Uncles and fathers were the immediate offenders.
Before, parents used to sell off their children to men for wealth and fancy weddings, but after sensitization campaigns, they devise new ways of harming the children.
According to authorities at least seven cases of teen pregnancies are reported monthly.
Chivumbe said the GBV against women is also on the rise with over 10 incidents so far reported.
The cases involve men assaulting wives and committing homicides.
She said the latest case is where a police officer killed his wife, children and murdered himself in Lunga-Lunga.
In October last year, a 29-old woman at Mteza village in Kinango was almost beaten to death by a jealous husband suspecting her of having extra-marital affairs.
Chivumbe said many women are unable to report the cases due to fear and lack of support.
She said outdated cultures and traditions are preventing the affected women from seeking justice.
Network for Adolescent and Youth of Africa officer Dorcus Mwachi said women are sidelined in leadership and development roles in the region.
She said a big percentage of the community still holds the perception that a woman is a lesser human being and her role is to serve men.
"A girl child is less prioritised and left behind in everything. They are made to believe that their responsibilities are to be housewives and follow the men's lead," she said.
Kwale based human rights activist Ali Abdallah Mondo said sodomy cases were alarming in the region.
Ukunda and Tsimba/Golini wards are believed to be the most affected followed by Ng'ombeni among other areas.
The rights defenders now want the county government to pass the county gender bill to effectively deal with the vice.
"The laws entail elaborated policies in handling the perpetrators and establishment of more rescue centers to house GBV victims," said Njeru.
However, she urged the locals to report the cases and join hands in uprooting GBV in Kwale.
Meanwhile, Chivumbe decried the rise of HIV/Aids infections in the region.
She said the county prevalence was at 5.6 per cent while countrywide stands at 5.7 per cent.
