The Bungoma County Deputy Governor, Jennifer Mbatiany, has expressed concern regarding the Triple threat of Gender Based Violence (GBV), teenage pregnancies and HIV infections in the area.
Speaking at Kamtiong village, Mt. Elgon ward, Bungoma County, during the burial of Mama Beldina Mau, who passed on at 102 years, Mbatiany said according to statistics from the Ministry of health, between January and July 2023, approximately 196 girls aged between 10–14 and another 7,270 aged 15–19 were pregnant in Bungoma.
The report further indicated that in 2022, the county recorded 12,103 cases of teenage pregnancies, whereas in 2021, the county registered among the highest numbers of cases nationally, which stood at 14,054.
On GBV, between 2016 to July 2023, the county recorded 9,089 cases, involving girls aged 10–17, compared to 18,510 cases reported nationally.
According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic Health Survey, 62 percent of Bungoma women have experienced physical or sexual violence.
On teen pregnancies, Bungoma County accounts for 19 percent of all teenage pregnancies in Kenya.
At the same time, the 2024 overall HIV prevalence for Bungoma county was 1.78 percent, with 2.53 percent and 1.01 percent for women and men, respectively.
According to the 2021/2022 National Syendemic Diseases Control Council HIV & AIDS Strategic Plan, the county had a prevalence of 2.8 percent and an estimated 30,091 people living with HIV.
“I urged the community, stakeholders, donors to act, come on board to ensure zero tolerance to the triple threat facing the country,” she said.
On the other hand, Mbatiany called upon the church to keep praying for peace as the political temperature heats up, ahead of by-elections, slated for late November 2025.
She called upon women to boldly step into leadership positions, so that they can support and safeguard the future of our young generation, more so the girl child.
By Douglas Mudambo
