Ni kubaya!!School girls to undergo pregnancy test

Narok County Commissioner George Natembeya addressing journalists in office on July 16, 2018. PHOTO | GEORGE SAYAGIE

As the school is set to reopen tomorrow,School girls in Narok county will undergo mandatory pregnancy and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) tests this week.

Narok County Commissioner George Natembeya directed school heads to ensure all female learners in both secondary and upper primary schools undergo the tests at local health facilities once the institutions reopen.

The tough talking administrator said he had formed a team to investigate teen pregnancies disaster which will be moving to schools to conduct the tests.

The team also comprises of officers from the provincial administration, the health, and education and gender affairs departments.

Mr Natembeya warned that parents of children who will be found to have been subjected to FGM will be arrested and prosecuted.

“The girls found to have undergone the cut will be forced to record statements with police while those who will be found to be pregnant will reveal the identities of the men responsible,” said Mr Natembeya.

The commissioner issued a stern warning to chiefs and their assistants against abetting the vices, saying those found culpable will be fired.

“I understand there is a section of chiefs who are bribed with cows to allow FGM, teenage pregnancies and early marriages to take place, be warned any case from your area you will be held responsible with dire consequences,” he said.

At 40 per cent, Narok is leads nationally in teenage pregnancies according to the latest Demographic Health Survey (DHS) report.

Last year, some 233 school girls from eight secondary and primary schools aged between 10 and 19 years were forced to drop out after they were found to be pregnant.

More than 60 girls failed to write their national examinations due to pregnancies.

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