Youth Leaders Campaign to Tame Teenage Pregnancies

Kerugoya, Monday, June 19, 2023

KNA by Mutai Kipngetich

Teenage pregnancies have been a great concern for the country’s leadership, hence need to curb the menace by all means.

Consequently, female youth leaders in parliament pitched tent in Kirinyaga county in a campaign aimed at reducing teenage pregnancies in the area.

Led by Kirinyaga Women Representative Jane Njeri, her Bomet counterpart Linet Chepkorir and nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba, the trio raised alarm over increased teenage pregnancies countrywide.

Speaking in Mugumo Girls High School in Gichugu Constituency, Orwoba said her campaign dubbed, End Period Poverty is determined to see all girls access sanitary towels free of charge.  

According to the senator, young girls from humble backgrounds fall victims to men in order to get funds for the purchase of sanitary towels, leading to increased cases of school dropouts.

“Our girls fall prey to men in exchange for sanitary pads, but we are saying this should come to an end. We no longer want to see our girls drop out of schools because of early pregnancies” Orwoba noted.

She said her intention was to see girls being successful members of society as well as occupying critical positions in the leadership of the country.

The senator told female students to be proud of their monthly period as this was a natural biological process that is experienced by all women worldwide.

Orwoba added the allocation of Sh. 940 million in the current budget towards the purchase of sanitary pads is an indication that the government is supporting the girls.

“Don’t be ashamed because of the period. It is a natural process happening to every female. The government is putting efforts to ensure every child gets a sanitary towel and in this financial year’s budget they have allocated Sh. 940 million,” she added

On her part, the host MP Njeri, said her “Triple Threat” campaign that seeks to end teenage pregnancies among others has reached over 50 schools in the county.

She said her team will ensure that no child misses school simply because of lack of sanitary pads.

“We have reached over 50 schools, in Kirinyaga county in our mission to create awareness on three major areas: Gender Based Violence, Teenage Pregnancies and Mental Health,” said Njeri.

“Senator Orwoba’s Pad Drive program is also here in Kirinyaga today and we will fully support it, even as the current budget proposes funds for pads to the school-going girls,” she said.

The women representative encouraged students to be respectful to parents and teachers because they will soon occupy that position themselves.  

“Respect your parents and teachers, Njeri will exit leadership and you are the one to take over, please work hard,” she added.

At the same time, Chepkorir, the youngest MP of the 13th Parliament, encouraged the students noting that everything was possible if only they worked hard.

“I want to thank my fellow leaders for the encouragement they are giving to our girls, we have similar programs in Bomet County that endeavor to end early pregnancies,” said Chepkorir.

During the event, the leaders distributed pads to girls from Kiburia, Mugumo, Thumaita, and Kabare secondary schools.

Courtesy ; K. N. A