This archive report was first published on 2 October 2019.
Published on October 2, 2019, Siaya County in Kenya has been grappling with a rising number of teenage pregnancies. According to statistics from the county health department, between June 2017 and July 2018, the six sub-counties recorded 11,918 teen pregnancies. This number jumped to 12,780 for the period between July 2018 and June 2019.
County Executive Member for Education, Youth Affairs, and Social Services, Mary Omondi, has organized programs on empowerment and mentorship for young people. These programs aim to educate and support teenagers in making informed decisions about their lives.
"Through this mentorship program, we do follow-ups on their lifestyles and educate them on matters of sexuality, including proper behavior at school and at home," said Omondi.
Additionally, the county has started engaging with parents to learn about the challenges they face while parenting teenage girls and to inform them of the concerns their daughters raise.
Nominated MCA, Benard Adala, representing the youth in the county, confirmed the plans by the Cornel Rasanga-led administration. Adala was speaking at a ceremony in Sega, Ugenya sub-county, where 70 youth received training on sexuality and health education.
"The youths are champions who are going to work with the teenagers and youth in Ugenya sub-county. Sex is a sensitive topic, and parents are not talking about it with their children, but we know that youths and young people listen to each other because they interact together at personal levels," said Adala.
The youth will be paid a monthly stipend for the period they will be working with the community.
