Matiang'i Bans 'Disco Matanga' to Protect Teenage Girls

Interior CS Fred Matiang'i addresses a gathering on January 12, 2018.
Interior CS Fred Matiang'i addresses a gathering on January 12, 2018.
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Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang'i issued a directive for the arrest of men who impregnated teenage girls when schools closed due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Matiang'i spoke in Trans Nzoia - which led in the number of teenage pregnancies in the country. He also banned night discos popularly known as ‘disco matangas’ in the county with immediate effect.

The CS said that the night dances were largely to blame for teenage pregnancies in the county.

“We have agreed with the county security team, there will be no disco matanga in this county. Those involved will be arrested and arraigned in court.

Young Kenyan girls advocate for the end of teenage pregnancy in 2018
Young Kenyan girls advocate for the end of teenage pregnancy in 2018
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This is no joke, the same happened in Kilifi county. Upon realizing the number of teenage pregnancies was very high, we stopped the disco matanga which was effective in Kilifi,” he said.

In an effort to curb teenage pregnancies, Ksh 45.5 million was released for the procurement of school buses that would facilitate students to travel safely to school and back home. 

“These buses will serve a major purpose in education because they are going to allow students who are staying in regions that are beyond commutable from their schools be able to get to school and back home safe, particularly in addressing the challenge of early pregnancies amongst our children,” said Constituency Development Fund (CDF) board chair, Robert Masese.

Matiang'i toured Trans Nzoia to inspect security and development projects accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Devolution Eugene Wamalwa.

He met with Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba and a security team led by Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya, and CC Ojwang.

Matiang'i also addressed other issues such as the high number of national identification cards that had not been collected by residents of the county.

Education CS George Magoha on Thursday, February 25, stated that his ministry, in conjunction with other State actors, was compiling a list of individuals who had impregnated school girls after which legal action would be taken.

Trans Nzoia has led in the cases of teenage pregnancies in the country registering more than 10,000 cases.

Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba at the Senate in 2016
Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba at the Senate in 2016
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