Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has directed education officials in Kisii County to ensure that 200 teenage mothers who had dropped out of school return as soon as possible.
Speaking at Sugubo Secondary School during a community empowerment event hosted by the area Woman Representative Dorice Aburi, PS Bitok emphasized the government’s commitment to enrolling every child under 18, including teen mothers, in school.
“It is really very sad that today we have met 200 girls from Kisii County facing challenges due to early pregnancies while in school, and we are saying this is unacceptable,” he decried.
He called on education stakeholders, including teachers, parents, and religious organizations, to protect young girls from vices that lead to teenage pregnancies. PS Bitok also urged National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) to collaborate closely with the Education Ministry to ensure no learner, including teen mothers, is left at home while others attend school.
The PS added that the Ministry is working round the clock to ensure accurate data of all learners across the country, following reports of discrepancies in school enrollment figures.
Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Stephen Isaboke, who attended the event, lauded the office of the Woman Representative for facilitating the return of teen mothers to school to pursue their academic goals.
Isaboke said the initiative aligns with President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to improve living standards for vulnerable populations at the grassroots level.
He also highlighted the government’s commitment to implementing the digital superhighway in Kisii, including constructing a Center of Excellence in Gucha South and other standard hubs across constituencies. “The hubs will be equipped with computers to ensure youth are not left behind in the digital divide and are part of the digital generation,” he affirmed.
Kisii Woman Representative Dorice Aburi expressed her commitment to supporting teenage mothers who had dropped out due to early pregnancies. She noted that most of the girls had a strong desire to return to school, prompting her office to facilitate their transition. Aburi also called for punitive measures against men who impregnate underage girls or commit defilement.
During the event, the Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency donated twelve 10,000-litre water storage tanks to schools as part of its Water Harvesting Programme.
Community members also received support from the office of the Woman Representative, including distribution of sanitary towels, wheelchairs, umbrellas for traders, and Hass avocado seedlings and goats to local groups.
By Mercy Osongo & Alfred Misheba
