Eight girls from Olontoto primary school in Narok North Sub County have been confirmed pregnant after schools closed due Covid-19.
Narok North Children’s Officer Pilot Khaemba said more girls’ schools could also be pregnant as the established cases were only for those who visited public health centers for antenatal clinic.
“Our voluntary Children officers managed to get the eight victims when they visited the health centers, however we believe that there are many other pregnant girls who have not visited the health centers,” lamented Khaemba.
Speaking in his office Friday, the children’s officer said 85 percent of child defilement cases in the sub county involve minor boys and girls, a situation that makes the cases complicated when being handled in court.
“Those children involved in defilement will have their fingerprints taken and a file opened for them to monitor progress and engage them in counseling. If the trend continues, then the culprits could be taken to rehabilitation centers,” reiterated Khaemba.
He cited a recent case where a 17-year-old boy impregnated a 16-year-old girl where both the minors confirmed to have been friends for a long time.
“Because they are minors, the parents have signed a bonding form that commits them to take care of their children so that they will not engage in defilement again,” said the children’s officer, adding that if the parents fail to protect their children then they will be liable for punishment as per the law.
Khaemba asked parents to take note of their children’s movement and spend quality time with them to mentor and teach them morals.
He called on the local village elders and chiefs to report cases of child pregnancy in their area of jurisdiction in a bid to bring to book culprits found responsible.
“Any chief who fails to report cases of teenage pregnancies in their area of jurisdiction should be punished according to the law. We expect chiefs to be our eyes on the ground to help us fight the vice,” he said.
In the year 2018, Narok County topped the country in the number of teenage pregnancies after recording 40 percent above the national average of 18 percent.
The report released by Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) showed that the county also led in infant, maternal and child mortality rates.
