Lamu County recorded at least 1,073 teenage pregnancies between last year and May this year, according to the latest report.
The report, by the county gender department, which was submitted to the Presidential Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Femicide, indicated that girls aged between 15 and 19 were the most affected.
In a joint statement on Thursday, June 5, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) demanded government intervention to end teenage pregnancies.
MUHURI stated that most of the cases stemmed from rape, defilement, as well early marriages, 789 of those recorded in this report having been reported last year.
The lobby group highlighted prior reports that brought attention to the issue, and called out the Senate, the National Assembly and the Council of Governors for failing to act even after KHRC issued several demands.
"Despite these efforts, neither MPs, senators, nor governors have responded or taken the necessary actions to safeguard our young girls. This inaction leaves them vulnerable to sexual violence, without access to critical sexual and reproductive health services, and unable to complete their education," part of the joint statement read.
In 2023, for instance, a report by the National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC) found that many adolescent girls were impregnated every day, while another report by the Kenya Demographic Health Survey in 2022 identified the top 10 counties with the highest rates of teenage pregnancies among girls aged 15 to 19.
Subsequently, the KHRC demanded that the Health Cabinet Secretary and governors of the affected counties be held accountable, indirectly terming them as unfit for public office due to their failure to protect vulnerable girls and ensure their return to school.
As such, KHRC demanded that its earlier demands to both the county and national governments be met before the next general elections, or the underperforming leaders across the board would be kicked out.
"The situation in Lamu is a sobering example of systemic failure. Kenyans, especially those in affected counties, must demand accountability from elected leaders who have failed to uphold their duties," part of the statement read.
"As the next general election approaches, citizens must evaluate the performance of MCAs, MPs, senators, governors, and the national government based on how they have protected—or failed to protect—our sexual and reproductive health rights."
To the Senate, KHRC urged it to summon the governors of the most affected counties to explain measures being taken to combat teenage pregnancy.
The National Assembly was urged to summon the Cabinet Secretary for Health to clarify existing policies and Kenya’s commitment to the Eastern and Southern Africa Commitment on comprehensive sexuality education, and the Cabinet Secretary for Education to outline strategies ensuring that pregnant girls are re-admitted to school without conditions and provided with psychosocial support.
Governors were issued five demands, including leading efforts to address the root causes of teenage pregnancy, including through Community Health Promoters and partnering with the Ministry of Education to ensure unconditional school re-entry and support for pregnant girls.
They were also asked to publicly denounce stigma and discrimination against pregnant students and commit to their continued education, collaborate with the Ministry of Health to address policy gaps on prevention and management of adolescent pregnancies, and urge parents to fulfil their responsibilities under the Children’s Act and the Constitution to protect their children's wellbeing.
