On day two of the Senate Mashinani sessions, members of the Kenya Women Senators Association (KEWOSA) took their outreach deep into villages to address the rising triple threat facing women in Busia County.
Speaking during an interactive session with education stakeholders in the County on the sidelines of the Senate Mashinani sittings, the female senators raised alarm over the rising cases of HIV infections, teenage pregnancies, rise of new sexually transmitted infections (STI) and rampant gender-based violence (SGBV) in Busia County, describing the situation as a national disaster which required urgent intervention.
The senators visited St. James Kwang’amor Secondary School, Okisimo Junior Secondary School and St. James Nasewa School before holding a dialogue with county and national officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
According to the senators led by KEWOSA Chairperson Senator Veronica Maina, recent data from Busia on GBV, new HIV infection and teenage pregnancies paints a worrying picture far way above the national figure.
The National Aids Control Council data shows that Busia County recorded 135 new HIV infections among adolescents aged 10–19 in 2024, up from 120 in 2019, with about 2,400 adolescents currently living with HIV.
“Busia is on a wrong footing on matters GBV, between 2016 and 2024, there were 65,540 adolescent pregnancies, accounting for 28percent of all first antenatal clinic visits. This is a worrying trend which calls for urgent dialogue,” said senator Maina.
“Subsequently, reported SGBV cases among adolescents rose sharply from 66 in 2016 to 480 in 2024, with 171 girls aged 10–17 becoming pregnant due to defilement within that period,” she added.
With 69.3 per cent of Busia residents living below the national poverty line, more adolescents in the county remained vulnerable, exposing them as they are easily lured into sex, exploitation and could easily drop out school.
Busia Women Representative Catherine Omanyo in her submission slammed the justice system for delay in ensuring GBV cases are disposed of on time thus giving room for culprits to address GBV cases through kangaroo courts.
“Why should our justice system take forever to address a defilement case yet they know the culprits compromise witnesses to dilute the evidence?” wondered Omanyo.
The sentiment was echoed by Teso South MP Mary Emase who called on residents to report cases of GBV and sexual exploitation.
Emase urged the government through the National Police Service Commission to ensure all police stations in Busia have a gender desk.
“We have witnessed Kangaroo courts handle GBV cases after our court failed to dispense justice to deserving families,” said Emase.
As a mitigation measure, KEWOSA educated the school girls and boys on their rights as enshrined in the Constitution under their legal rights under the Sexual Offences Act (2006), before distributing 3,000 menstrual hygiene pads to girls and 1,000 pairs of boxer shorts to boys to help improve school attendance and confidence.
“We will use our Senate mandate for oversight, legislation, and representation to ensure that frameworks such as the Children’s Act (2022) and Basic Education Act (2013) are fully implemented.” Noted senator Maina.
By Absalom Namwalo
