'Poverty, cultural norms, are catalysts to teenage pregnancies in Kuresoi North', X Space reveals

On Thursday February 27, Mtaa Wangu hosted an X-Space discussion, bringing together experts, civil society members, and locals to share insights and propose solutions to the rise in teenage pregnancies in Kuresoi South sub county.    

Leonard Kimutai, Head of the Youth Program at Dandelion Africa, identifies poverty as a major factor, with many girls, lacking basic necessities such as sanitary pads, forced to engage in transactional sex to meet their needs.  

"Cultural norms and gender inequality such as early marriages have also normalized gender-based violence and sexual abuse, reducing girls to mere objects," Kimutai adds.  

He further highlights a gap in parental guidance and communication noting that many parents avoid discussions on sexuality. 

"Parents tend to shy away from these topics, leaving girls misinformed and vulnerable to risky behaviours," he says.  

County Gender Chief Officer Gladys Kamuren echoed Kimutai’s concerns, adding that economic vulnerability plays a role. 

"Many girls are drawn to easy money, making them easy targets for men. Parents, in some cases, even encourage their daughters to find jobs, and when they struggle financially, they turn to men for support," she explains.  

She also points out that deep-rooted cultural beliefs contribute to the crisis. "Some parents see older girls as a liability. They believe delaying marriage is a financial loss, so they marry them off early for wealth gain," she says.  

Rebecca Achuti, a resident of Kuresoi North, emphasizes the role of peer pressure stating that many cases involve teenage boys rather than older men.

"When pregnancies happen, boys return to school while girls drop out to raise the child," she notes.  

Nurse Wendy Tirop stresses the serious health risks associated with teenage pregnancies, including life-threatening obstetric emergencies.

She underscores the need for reproductive health education beyond healthcare facilities to reach parents and the wider community.  

"The youth-friendly centres integrated into health facilities aim to create safe spaces where adolescents can ask questions and receive age-appropriate reproductive health information," she explains.  

Kimutai also highlights the lack of male involvement in pregnancy prevention. "Engaging boys and young men is crucial in addressing this issue," he says.  

A listener, Kipng’etich Lam, notes that the rise of tea farming in Kuresoi North has contributed to the problem, as some girls seek financial support from men involved in the trade. 

He calls for grassroots-level reproductive health education to increase awareness.    

To tackle the issue, participants agreed that collaboration between stakeholders and the community is essential. 

It was agreed that comprehensive reproductive health education in schools and communities was needed to challenge harmful cultural norms. More enhanced parental engagement to foster open discussions on sexuality and relationships is also essential.  

During the launch of the Njoro Youth-Friendly Centre, it was revealed that Kuresoi North Sub county has the highest prevalence of teenage pregnancies. 

The sub county leads with a concerning 19.2 percent, followed closely by Kuresoi South at 18 percent and Njoro at 17 percent.