1,500 cases of Gender-Based Violence have been reported this year alone. [Courtesy]
The government has raised concern over rampant cases of defilement in Kakamega North.
A multi-agency team comprising national and county government officials visited two local schools worst hit by the crisis last week.
The schools have recorded high cases of teen pregnancies involving girls aged between 15 and 19.
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Statistics released by Kabras Police Station show at least 16 cases of defilement and three incest incidents were reported last month.
Schools in Manda/Shivanga ward were found to be leading in cases of defilement.
St Monica Namatala Girls and Namtala primary recorded at least eight defilement cases last month alone according to the statistics.
There are also fears that pregnant school girls could be seeking the services of quack doctors in order to procure abortions oblivious of the dangers.
Faith Tila, a nurse said teenage pregnancy was a ticking time bomb in the area.
"By December 4th, we had already recorded 10 cases of defilement at our hospital, my worry is that we will have recorded even more cases by December. Recently, we had a case of a 13-year-old who was induced by a midwife before being rushed to hospital but she could not make it due to excessive bleeding. That same day, we also had six deliveries by teenagers, it is a worrying trend,” said Tila.
She said Malava sub-county hospital witnesses between 60 to 85 deliveries every day with the majority being teenage mothers.
St Monica Namatala Girls deputy headteacher Beatrice Mukungu said the school was worried about rising cases of defilement.
The data collected by Kabras police station also indicated that 1,500 cases of Gender-Based Violence have been reported this year alone.
In 2020, Malava sub-county reported at least 1,498 gender violence cases according to the statistics seen by The Standard.
