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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Teen mothers receive support for school and food needs

Western

By Benard Lusigi and Mary Imenza | Dec 11, 2024

**Prof. Janet Kassilly (second from left), hands foodstuffs to teenage mothers who have returned to school.**[Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Health stakeholders led by Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa’s spouse Janet Kassilly Barasa have challenged county governments to amend laws and allocate budgets to address key community issues such as early pregnancies.

Speaking at Golf Hotel on Thursday during a mentorship programme for 134 teen mothers in Kakamega, Kassilly emphasized the need for more resources to empower vulnerable groups, including teen mothers, women, youth, and widows, to improve their lives.

“I emphasize the need for dedicated resources to empower vulnerable groups, including teen mothers, women, youth, and widows, to improve their lives,” she said.

She said the spouses of governors in the Lake Region Economic Bloc were actively working together to tackle teen pregnancies and school drop-out challenges.

“If we have our agenda-sensitive budget, we can carry out activities to support the vulnerable members of the community. We can focus on helping teenage mothers, women, widows, and youth,” she added.

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Collaboration

She also acknowledged the support from various partners in Kakamega County, including Too Pressed to Wait Organization, USAID, and other organisations which, she said, had collaborated with her foundation in helping those in need.

Valerie Khamati, a public relations and communication strategist with Resolve Communications, said their organisation was committed to connecting communities with solutions.

She explained that their goal is to help identify partners already working on the ground to combat the teen pregnancy crisis.

“We are launching this programme first in Kakamega because the First Lady has shown great commitment to tackling this issue, and we look forward to achieving success together,” she said.

Through these efforts, Khamati added that Kakamega County aims to reduce teenage pregnancies further and empower its most vulnerable populations.

Girl vulnerability

The latest data from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) shows that national vulnerability for the girl-child stands at 14.9 per cent.

The KDHS data shows that Western Kenya has alarming rates above the national average, with Bungoma County recording 18.6 per cent girl child vulnerability followed by Busia at 18.3 per cent, Trans Nzoia at 17.8 per cent, Kakamega at 15.1 per cent and Vihiga County at 7.7 per cent.

Nairobi County also recorded a significant percentage at 8.4 per cent.

A report by the Department of Health in the county said teenage pregnancies have been reduced from 14,000 in 2023 to 9,000 in 2024, an improvement which has been attributed to an ongoing programme in the county.