Members of the Kirinyaga County Assembly have called for urgent and coordinated interventions to address the rising cases of teenage pregnancies in the county.
The legislators warned that the challenge has become a major social, health and development concern requiring immediate action.
The concerns were raised during debate on a motion tabled by nominated Member of County Assembly (MCA) Grace Kamau, who urged the county government and other stakeholders to strengthen efforts aimed at protecting adolescent girls, preventing early pregnancies and safeguarding their education and future.
Kamau told the Assembly that teenage pregnancy is no longer solely a health issue but a broader societal challenge that demands collaboration among parents, religious institutions, schools, government agencies, healthcare providers and the wider community.
She said effective interventions should focus on prevention through education, access to adolescent-friendly health services, community awareness and stronger child protection measures.
According to data from the county health sector, adolescent pregnancies continue to account for a significant proportion of expectant mothers seeking antenatal services in Kirinyaga County.
“The situation remains a growing concern, with 540 adolescent pregnancy cases recorded within the first three months of 2026, representing 15.3 per cent of pregnant women seeking antenatal services,” Kamau said.
Murinduko MCA Charles Nyamu Nyaga noted that the problem is more prevalent in parts of the Mwea region.
He expressed concern over the increasing number of cases reported in Murinduko, Kangai, Mutithi, Mukure and Nyangati wards, saying urgent interventions were needed to reverse the trend.
Nyaga called for the establishment of an adolescent maternal support programme accompanied by adequate budgetary allocations to assist teenage mothers, many of whom are not covered under the Social Health Authority (SHA), leaving their families to shoulder the cost of maternal healthcare.
Mutira MCA Kinyua Wangui said the figures represented real lives and futures that risk being permanently disrupted by early pregnancies.
“The statistics are not just numbers. They are daughters, students and the future of the county,” he said.
Nominated MCA Lucy Njeri observed that the rise in teenage pregnancies was also interconnected to increasing cases of new HIV infections and sexual and gender-based violence, describing the issues as challenges that require a comprehensive and coordinated response.
Following the debate, the Assembly resolved that the County Executive Committee Member for Medical Services should work jointly with the departments of Education, Gender and Youth Affairs to establish a multi-sectoral framework focusing on prevention, protection, rehabilitation and accountability in addressing teenage pregnancies across the county.
By Mutai Kipng’etich
