The Government has warned that all individuals involved in defiling young girls will be arrested and prosecuted as part of renewed efforts to curb teenage pregnancies and protect children from sexual abuse.
Speaking in Rombo Ward, Kajiado South, during a community dialogue and survivor forum, Anti-FGM Board Chairperson Ipato Surum said the government is determined to reduce teenage pregnancies to zero.
“We will pursue every suspect responsible for impregnating our young girls, charge them with defilement, and ensure they take full responsibility for the pregnancy and the child born. The government cannot continue investing heavily in the future of our children while some individuals are busy destroying that future,” said Surum.
She noted that although the Anti-FGM Board’s mandate is to eliminate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), the practice is closely linked to teenage pregnancies, school dropouts, and early marriages.
“In Kajiado County, the FGM prevalence rate stands at 22 percent. While we are working to eradicate the practice, we are deeply concerned by the rising cases of teenage pregnancies, partly driven by ignorance and indiscipline within the community,” she said.
Surum urged mothers to be more vigilant and guide their daughters while educating them on the dangers of teenage pregnancies and early marriages.
Anti-FGM Board Chief Executive Officer, Bernadette Loloju, described the situation as alarming, revealing that 115 girls in Grades 9 and 10 are currently pregnant in Rombo Ward alone.
She blamed adult men for the rising cases and urged them to stop preying on underage girls.
“There are many grown women you can form relationships with. Please stay away from young girls,” she said.
Loloju reiterated that the government will enforce the Sexual Offences Act to ensure all perpetrators are brought to justice.
She emphasized the importance of educating the girl child and abandoning harmful cultural practices such as FGM, noting that a society that neglects the education of girls is destined to fail because women are the pillars of society.
Loloju also called on parents to instill discipline and self-control in both boys and girls to secure a better future.
She further disclosed that the East African Community Anti-FGM Bill is currently at the public participation stage, with Kenya actively contributing to its development.
Anti-FGM Champion, Anastacia Mashipei from Rombo said they will continue sensitizing girls both in schools and at home on the dangers of teenage pregnancy and early marriages.
She added that, with support from the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), they will help identify and pursue those responsible for impregnating young girls in the community.
Rosy Kipapa, a former circumciser, said she abandoned the practice after learning about the harmful effects of FGM and is now championing girl-child empowerment through education.
According to the Kajiado County Department of Health, more than 2,000 cases of teenage pregnancies involving girls aged between 10 and 19 years were recorded between January and March this year.
By Diana Meneto
