Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has put county bosses on spot over high rates of teenage pregnancies.
The Commission issued 20 governors with red cards for the high rate of teenage pregnancies.
The KHRC team led by Executive Director Davis Malombe, Deputy Executive Cornelius Odour, Program Manager Annet Nerima and Program Advisor Furaha Charo and Robert Waweru cited a report by the National National Syndemic Disease Control Council that showed 696 girls were impregnated daily in 2023.
"As we approach the International Women's Day celebrations, we must address a pressing issue plaguing our society. The crisis of intended teenage pregnancies in Kenya, which comes with gross human violations," Malombe said.
Speaking to the press on Thursday, Malombe accused the county bosses of not making tangible steps to mitigate unintended teenage pregnancies that affected girls aged between 15 to 19 years.
Ten governors were accused of not making efforts to curb teenage pregnancies while another 10 were cited for having the highest per capita contribution to teen pregnancies.
The counties leading are Nairobi 452, Kakamega 328, Bungoma 294, Kilifi 224, Meru 206, Kisii 192, Machakos 178 and Narok 176.
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 percent respectively.
Nerima said the governors have not only failed to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies but also breached several human rights.
"The right to education, life and dignity, health, right to equality and freedom of discrimination and security," Nerima said.
While also reviewing the data from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022, the commission noted that some teenage pregnancies were caused by poverty, sexual gender-based violence and harmful cultural practices and school closures experienced in 2020.
Charo called on health and education ministries and the Council of Governors to come together to mitigate the crisis.
"The Ministry of Education should ensure that every teenage girl is permitted back to school and provided with psychosocial support without objection," Charo said.
"The Ministry of Health should recommit to the Eastern and Southern Africa Commitment on comprehensive sexual education."
The Council of Governors was asked to investigate the crisis and offer policies for the prevention and management of teenage pregnancies.
Parents on the other hand were told to ensure well being and welfare of children in accordance with the Children’s Act.
