The most recent research conducted in Kenya on teenage pregnancies indicated that girls from Narok county bear the brunt of such pregnancies.
The revelations came after hundreds of KCPE and KCSE candidates were noted to be pregnant at the time of sitting for their national exams.
Kitui County announced that more than 100 candidates sitting for their KCSE are pregnant. While you would expect such a county to lead in the latest rankings of counties with the highest teen pregnancy in Kenya (2018), it is ranked 30th with just 14%.
The country with the highest teen pregnancy prevalence rate in the country is Narok County with 40% followed by Homa Bay, West Pokot, Tana River and Nyamira counties with 33%, 29%, 28% and 28% respectively.
To complete the top ten are Samburu, Migori, Kwale, Bomet and Trans-Nzoia County. The counties with the least teen pregnancy rates in Kenya are Murang’a (6%), Nyeri (7%), Embu (8%), Elgeyo Marakwet (9%) and Nyandarua (10%).
Unconfirmed reports indicated that bodaboda operators are the major culprits perpetuating the teenage pregnancy crimes.
List of Counties With Highest Teenage Pregnancy in Kenya
| No. | County | (%) |
| 1. | Narok | 40 |
| 2. | Homa Bay | 33 |
| 3. | West Pokot | 29 |
| 4. | Tana River | 28 |
| 5. | Nyamira | 28 |
| 6. | Samburu | 26 |
| 7. | Migori | 24 |
| 8. | Kwale | 24 |
| 9. | Bomet | 24 |
| 10. | Trans-Zoia | 23 |
| 11. | Uasin Gishu | 22 |
| 12. | Kilifi | 22 |
| 13. | Kericho | 21 |
| 14. | Busia | 21 |
| 15. | Kajiado | 20 |
| 16. | Turkana | 20 |
| 17. | Meru | 20 |
| 18. | Kakamega | 19 |
| 19. | Isiolo | 19 |
| 20. | Laikipia | 19 |
| 21. | Kisii | 18 |
| 22. | Nakuru | 18 |
| 23. | Wajir | 17 |
| 24. | Nairobi | 17 |
| 25. | Siaya | 17 |
| 26. | Marsabit | 16 |
| 27. | Mombasa | 16 |
| 28. | Nandi | 15 |
| 29. | Kisumu | 15 |
| 30. | Kitui | 14 |
| 31.. | Bungoma | 14 |
| 32. | Machakos | 14 |
| 33. | Kiambu | 14 |
| 34. | Tharaka Nithi | 14 |
| 35. | Taita Taveta | 13 |
| 36. | Baringo | 13 |
| 37. | Vihiga | 13 |
| 38. | Kirinyaga | 11 |
| 39. | Makueni | 11 |
| 40. | Garissa | 10 |
| 41. | Mandera | 10 |
| 42. | Lamu | 10 |
| 43. | Nyandarua | 10 |
| 44. | Elgeyo Marakwet | 9 |
| 45. | Embu | 8 |
| 46. | Nyeri | 7 |
| 47. | Murang’a | 6 |
Data from the National Council for Population and Development indicates that between July 2016 and June 2017, a total of 378,397 pregnant girls between 10 and 19 years were attended at different health facilities across the 47 counties.
Another report by the United Nations Population Fund indicates that 28,932 girls between age 10 and 14 and another 349,465 between age 15 and 19 became pregnant at the same period.
These statistics put the average teenage pregnancy rates in the country at 18%. However, as the table above shows, some counties are more affected than others.
Some of the notable factors contributing to teenage pregnancy in Kenya include:
1. Peer Pressure
2. Rape
3. Cultural Practices
4. Poverty
5. Broken Families
6. Lack of Sexual Awareness
7. Abuse of Alcohol and Drugs
What is the best solution for teenage pregnancies? Punishing perpetrators? Sex education? Tightening laws? What do you think?
Drop your comments and likes.