There has been a great divergence of views in rolling out comprehensive sexuality education in Kenya with key societal pillars arguing their case differently.
The scuffles in accepting the bare minimum of what comprehensive sexuality education should entail have always outpowered the sad reality of the young people grappling with unplanned pregnancies, new HIV infections, and sexual gender-based violence.
The truth of the matter is that teens accounting for 60 per cent of the Kenya population need sexuality education as they transition from childhood to adolescence and later to adulthood.
Researchers have proved beyond doubt that indeed low information on sexuality is a greater contributor to the triple threats in Kenya and beyond.
Sex education is designed to equip teens with requisite knowledge and information on reproductive health, reproduction, the physical, emotional and psychological changes occurring to their bodies, life skills, and self-awareness to mention the least.
With the widespread secularisation, modernisation, and technology, teens are more susceptible to learning, desiring, and actualising their curiosity to indulge in early sex or what religions refer to as premarital sex.
Moreover, dire socio-economic conditions experienced by parents, teens, and communities are a causal factor in Kenya being ranked third in the world for its immense contribution to teenage pregnancy statistics.
Going back to history, sexuality education used to take place even before civil society organizations started sensitising communities about it.
It was the duty of the uncles, aunties, grandfathers, and grandmothers in the extended set-up to have a sit-in with boys and girls separately and take them through their social cultural norms regarding sexuality and how they were expected to handle themselves.
They were also socialised on the repercussions if they indulged in early sex.
Parents were keen on the upbringing of their children and the wise ones would ensure that their teens did not miss great lessons from their extended families.
Parents were conscious of their children's well-being.
Arguably, in full realisation of the detrimental effects of modernisation, parents have slowed down their watch on their teens. This is far worse with dysfunctional family setups.
Parents, religious leaders, and teachers are all ashamed and believe it is a hard duty or taboo to speak about sexuality with the view that they will start to indulge in sexual intercourse.
Arguably, the latter is a misconception in many communities and it sets the scene for opposing sexuality education.
According to the Ministry of Health, 98 teens get infected with HIV weekly. Thus there is a need to speed up the agreement on the topics that comprehensive sexuality education should entail and start rolling it out as fast as we can.
The author is the CEO of Angaza Youth Initiative
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
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