Lusaka issues new directive towards curbing teenage pregnancies

By Peter Ochieng

Bungoma governor Kenneth Lusaka on Thursday issued a new directive, aimed at preventing 'runaway teenage pregnancies' in the border county.

Sub-county, ward, and village administrators are now obligated to submit regular reports, detailing fresh cases within their respective jurisdictions.

The directive was issued during a stakeholders' forum on teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence in the county.

Lusaka emphasised on the need for immediate action, stating, "We must curb the alarming number of teenage pregnancies, and these reports will be instrumental in our efforts."

He further outlined a two-pronged approach, which consists of extensive awareness campaigns through county barazas to educate communities about the dangers of early pregnancies, and routine reporting in every ward to ensure accurate data collection for effective intervention.

"Maintaining statistics on reported cases is crucial as it allows us to strategise and implement targeted solutions to this critical issue," he said.

The county boss specifically urged parents to be extra vigilant during the festive season, a period often associated with increased risks for young girls.

"We must work together, and parents play a vital role in ensuring their children's safety and well-being, even as we implement broader initiatives."

His deputy, Jenipher Mbatiany said inability to afford sanitary pads due to poverty, lack of sexual and reproductive health awareness and limited acces to sexual reproductive health services were some of the reasons Bungoma is ranked highly in cases of teenage pregnancies.

Mbatiany said the rate of teenage pregnancies in the county stand at 19 percent, against a national average of 15 percent.

Governor Lusaka on Tuesday during Jamhuri Day celebrations said he was ashamed of those statistics.

"I am ashamed to say that many surveys have ranked Bungoma county as top in matters of gender-based violence and teenage pregnancy. This is a label that we must reverse and do so collectively."