This archive report was first published on 29 June 2020.
Kenya's Teen Pregnancy Crisis: A Call for Action ¶
As the world grappled with the Covid-19 pandemic, a disturbing trend emerged in Kenya: a sharp increase in teen pregnancies. According to a recent report, Machakos County alone recorded a staggering 4,000 expectant teenagers, with many other counties reporting similar spikes.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha attributed the rise to easy access to pornography on the internet, but experts argue that the issue is far more complex. Our African culture of marrying off young girls, for instance, can lead to a lack of awareness about child sexual crimes.
African men who engage in sexual relationships with minors are often referred to as 'defilers' in Kenya. However, many of these individuals are likely paedophiles, who prey on vulnerable children. The fact that most paedophiles caught in Kenya are white men has contributed to a lack of awareness about the issue.
Paedophilia has been a challenge in many developed countries, but they have made significant progress in studying and addressing the issue. Kenya, on the other hand, is still in the dark ages when it comes to dealing with paedophiles. It's time for us to take a more nuanced approach to this problem.
One of the key challenges is the lack of support for social workers and psychologists who specialize in child protection. These professionals are crucial in assessing individuals who molest minors and deciding whether they pose a long-term risk to society. NGOs have filled the gap left by social workers, but they have no duty of care; the government does.
Prison hospitals and other secure units are the best option for keeping untreatable paedophiles away from society. Sex registers are also vital in documenting names of those with a record of sexual crimes and posing a risk to minors and women. Building a strong database of social workers, psychologists, and specialist police who can work with families and schools on child protection issues is also essential.
It's time for Kenya to step up its child protection policy and put it at the top of any government agenda. We need to put our money where our mouth is and ensure that children are safe inside and outside their homes.
