Seven girls from Kuresoi North aged between 14 and 16 years are the latest victims of increasing cases of defilement and teenage pregnancies in the county.
Nakuru County Gender Officer, Vivian Yegon said teachers got concerned about the girls when they suddenly stopped being active during class and games, prompting the medical tests that revealed they were pregnant.
Ms.Yegon said area children’s officer and local administrators were working with the police to arrest the men responsible for defiling the minors from Kiptororo Secondary School.
“Last year we recorded 52 cases of teenage pregnancies in this region. Some of the girls have named the men responsible for their pregnancy. Most of the culprits are Boda-boda riders,” she said.
Ms.Yegon expressed concern at the rising incidents of teenage pregnancies in the region, saying efforts by her office and Ministry of Education officials to fight the menace did not seem to be bear results.
“We have established that the culprits waylay the minors at dawn when they are heading to school and in the evenings on their way back home. Kuresoi North’s terrain seems to be working in favour of defilers as the girls have to pass through valleys and bushes on their way to and from school,” observed the gender officer.
Maendeleo ya Wanawake Chairperson Eunice Lelei attributed the mess to outdated cultural practices, parents and the community, accusing themof neglecting children and abdicating their responsibilities.
“Girls are made to feel they are old enough after undergoing FGM. They end up engaging in sexual activities and in the end get pregnant and drop out of school. Culture here also inhibit women from talking openly about their woes thus aggravating the situation.
