Women leaders demand action against men impregnating minors

Women leaders have teamed up to educate women and teenagers in Trans Nzoia on the impact of illicit sex and need for taking action against perpetrators.

They say the region is ranked among counties with high numbers of teenage pregnancies cases.

In Endebes, Everlyne Nekesa has organised workshops to educate teenage mothers who are living in poverty which continues to push them into illicit sex for money.

Nekesa, 56, says she has had enough of empty promises by government that those found culpable would be arrested, jailed and forced to carry the burden of the teenage mothers and their children as they return to classrooms.

She says punitive action including castration of those responsible should be enacted in the Penal Code to deter offenders.

"Women leaders who will be elected in the next National Assembly, Senate and county assemblies should amend laws governing children sexual molestation to allow for castration of boys and men who  impregnate minors," she said.

Nekesa has teamed up with environmentalist Immaculate Shamalla, nominated MCA Anne Wanjiku, Nairobi businesswoman Esther Koli Wekesa, Metrine Too, Kitale businesswoman Jane Frezer Wegesa and Trans Nzoia Woman Rep Janet Nangabo in demanding for action against men impregnating schoolgirls.

They also want those culpable to start taking care of the teen mothers and their children,  a move they say will reduce "men's appetite for young girls".

“Men who salivate for girls in school uniform should go buy uniforms for their wives and admire them instead of thirsting for schoolgirls," Nangabo said.

She said combating sexual misbehaviour requires a wide range of strategies and advocated for legislation and launching social enterprises for the teenage mothers, their children and parents who are unable to put food on their tables due to poverty.

Speaking to the Star on Wednesday in a telephone interview, the legislator said in addition to having laws,  castration is a key step towards taming the vice.

Frezer urged Interior Cabinet Secretary  Fred Matiang'i to intervene and have all persons responsible for impregnating school children arrested.

She said Trans Nzoia had been put in the limelight for the wrong reasons with over 11,000 cases of teenage pregnancies with no action so far taken against the perpetrators. 

Shamalla asked the government to ensure all children are in school irrespective of whether they are pregnant or not as third term begins.

"We are appealing to the able Interior CS, his Education counterpart George Magoha and Defense CS Eugene Wamalwa to reign in on  all chiefs and their assistants who to date have not given details about the pregnant children in their areas of jurisdiction," she said.

Shamala who is eying the Trans Nzoia Woman Rep seat said chiefs and their assistants in whose areas of jurisdiction cases of teen pregnancies continue rise have no business holding such positions.

 Speaking to the Star on phone, Wamalwa called for action against perpetrators saying, "Security agencies are hereby called upon to take stern action against anyone implicated in denying girls a chance to pursue their education."

Trans Nzoia county commissioner Sam Ojwang ordered village administrators, chiefs and their assistants to ensure they provide data on learners who have not reported back to school.

He said no pupil will be allowed to stay at home. He said several state departments are closely working with head teachers to get full information on the identity and location of the absent learners who include pregnant schoolgirls, to return them to school.

“We have tasked village administrators, chiefs and their assistants to  collect data on all children including  girls who are currently expectant to enable 100 per cent transition,’’ he said.

The administrator expressed concern over rising  cases of teenage pregnancies and directed county director of education Dr  Salome Maina to ensure no pupil remains at home during learning. 

-Edited by SKanyara