Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya issued a satirical order to Chiefs under his administration, while addressing issues pertaining to teenage pregnancies.
In a video seen by Kenyans.co.ke on Friday, May 22, the police boss, while addressing a congregation in Rift Valley, asked Chiefs to ensure that the rate of teenage pregnancy was reduced.
However, the vocal commissioner directed that a Chief would take responsibility for a young girl's pregnancy as they have the mandate to enforce the law in their areas.
"If a girl in your area conceives, I will perceive it as your pregnancy until that day when she will give birth and a DNA test is conducted.
"But before that, you will take care of all her costs, from clinics to the maternity. Where were you when she conceived? Therefore, arrest everyone who puts our young girls in danger," Natembeya stated as the gathering broke into laughter.
The police boss has always raised concerns on the need to protect teenage girls and to ensure that they do not drop out of school.
"We have the highest rates of teen pregnancies in the country, and Female Genital Mutilation is widespread in some communities in Narok, but it is difficult to detect these cases as it is all underground and secretive," he stated.
He further urged schools to conduct compulsory pregnancy tests for teenage girls.
"The tests will help us to better support girls who often have to hide their pregnancies and health complications after undergoing FGM.
"We will also be able to prosecute men who defile them and go after their parents who force them to undergo FGM," Natembeya proclaimed.
In March 2020, a survey by the National Council on Population and Development (NCPD) revealed that one in five girls aged between 15 and 19 in Kenya is either pregnant or has given birth.
As at the end of 2019, 379,573 girls, including 10-year-olds were impregnated. 20,828 minors that have been driven into parenthood were are aged between 10 and 14 years.
According to the report, teenage pregnancies are being fuelled by rape, defilement, poverty, early marriages, peer influence, drug abuse and lack of youth-friendly health services.
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