Cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and teenage pregnancies are on the rise in Kericho County.
Speaking while chairing the National Government Development County Implementation Coordination and Management Committee Meeting (NGD-CICMC) in his boardroom, the County Commissioner (CC), Gilbert Kitiyo, noted that the number of teenage pregnancies was on the increase and that intervention measures to bring the numbers down and finally end the vice should be enhanced through public sensitisation.
Kitiyo said that efforts by the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) to counter and stem the vice through barazas and have those who perpetrate the vice be arrested and prosecuted in a court of law are hindered by too much secrecy before family meetings and collusion between the victims’ family members and the perpetrators (Kipgaa), where the vice is illegally arbitrated.
During the meeting, which was attended by all the National Government County Heads of Departments, the CC noted the complainants in the cases often fail to appear for mention or hearing of the cases in the court of law, thus allowing the culprits to escape the prosecution.
The administrator said a major meeting to end the Triple Threat of the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Teenage pregnancies and the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS in the county would soon be held in the area, where relevant and key stakeholders would participate.
Kitiyo urged the elders and the leaders in the community to educate and help sensitise the Kipsigis community on the dangers and negative effects of FGM, Teenage pregnancies and HIV AIDS in the society.
The CC said that if the youth and certain groups in the society were left unguided, the gains made in the fight against FGM, HIV/AIDS, and early and unwanted pregnancies would be reversed.
At the same time, Kitiyo told public servants to discharge their duties diligently and deliver on their various mandates while working as a team.
He told the officers to fully implement all government policies by disseminating relevant information to the public as and when required, especially in public barazas and meetings.
“You should own the programmes that the national government is rolling out like the SHA/ SHIF, Social Protection Funds Programmes, Affordable Housing Programme (AHP), Roads and Markets projects, Classrooms Construction, Fertilizer Subsidies, Bursaries for Secondary Schools among others. Government programmes should be communicated effectively,” added Kitiyo.
By Dominic Cheres
