This archive report was first published on 13 October 2019.
Published on October 13, 2019, Ida Odinga, the wife of Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga, has raised concerns over the alarming rate of teenage pregnancies in Siaya County.
According to data from the county health department, between June 2017 and July 2018, six sub-counties recorded 11,918 cases of teenage pregnancies. This number increased to 12,780 between July 2018 and June 2019.
Ida, while addressing residents in Sigomere Ward, directly pointed fingers at local leaders, accusing them of failing to protect young girls from sex predators. She emphasized that it was time for these leaders to address the worrying statistics.
"I will go to court if our leaders cannot protect girls from sex predators," Ida said. She also vowed to take legal action against leaders who fail to protect young girls.
Ida attributed the rise in teenage pregnancies to high levels of drug abuse and alcohol consumption, which she said led to irresponsible sexual behaviors.
"We cannot allow men to make our girls mothers," she said, emphasizing the need for collective responsibility in addressing the issue.
