A coalition of civil society groups is pressing members of Parliament to support sex education in Kenyan schools, saying the proposal could help reduce teenage pregnancies, HIV/AIDS infections and unsafe abortions.
The campaign is being led by the Right Here Right Now Platform together with 14 other civil society groups. The lobby has been meeting young legislators in Nairobi in an effort to get a bill introduced in Parliament.
But the push is already running into political resistance. Some MPs say the subject is too sensitive and could cost them support back home, especially in rural constituencies where voters may hold sharply different views.
“As much as we want to save our teenagers from early pregnancies, this story is dicey to some of us who are from rural constituencies,” Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro was quoted by The Star.
The group says sex education would give adolescents the information they need to make informed decisions and avoid risky behaviour. It also says the policy could help address sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.
The Kenya Young Parliamentarians Association, which is led by Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, has already held discussions with the lobby group in Nairobi.
