County to formulate policy in support of teenage mothers

During this year's International Mother's Day, Mtaa Wangu published a story of Gladys Waithera, a lady who became a mother in her teen age.

She is just among many teenage mothers in Nakuru, who have experienced stigma in the society.

However, Nakuru Education Executive, Zipporah Wambui says such cases will be a thing of the past, if a policy being formulated by the County shall sail through the county assembly.

Speaking during a meeting to mark International Family Day in Nakuru, the CEC pointed out that the Nakuru County Policy on Triple Threat seeks to address the triple adolescence challenges of HIV infection, early pregnancies and gender-based violence.

She added that besides teenage mothers, the policy will also help address drug and substance abuse among young people in Nakuru and a move to help rehabilitate them.

This according to Ms Wambui will offer the teenagers second chance in life.

"The county administration is working on a policy to see how we can help our teenagers. We realized we have many teenage mothers who need support and a second chance at life," she says.

The policy, once drafted, shall be forwarded to the County Assembly.

In 2022, Nakuru County recorded 297 teenagers aged 10 to 19 years who had new HIV infections representing 19.8 percent of the total new HIV infections.

8,426 adolescent girls in the same age bracket, became pregnant in the same year.

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