This archive report was first published on 9 November 2019.
On a typical day in Hurlingham, a leafy suburb in Nairobi, a hotel's elegant decor and intricate organization can be a welcome respite from the city's chaos. However, on the day of this interview, my attention was drawn to two children playing in the hotel's grounds. A 14-year-old girl, Mueni, and a three-year-old boy, Kitavi, were laughing, running around, and hugging each other, seemingly oblivious to their surroundings.
As I sat down to take notes, I was confronted with a harsh reality. Mueni and Kitavi are not siblings, but a mother and son. Mueni's grandmother, Mwende, revealed that Mueni had given birth to Kitavi in September 2015 at the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi.
According to Mwende, Mueni was just 14 years old when she became pregnant. She had been sexually abused by her school principal in Kitui, and the traumatic experience led to her dropping out of school. Mueni's mental health has been affected by the abuse, and she is now unable to attend school.
When Mwende discovered Mueni's pregnancy, she immediately called her father, who lived in Nairobi, and informed him of the situation. He sent them fare, and they boarded a matatu to Nairobi, where they alighted at Komarock estate. The next morning, Mwende took Mueni to Kenyatta Hospital, where it was confirmed that she was four months pregnant.
Mwende has been taking care of Mueni and Kitavi, and she has been advocating for their rights and well-being. However, she has requested that their identities be kept secret to avoid ridicule and stigma associated with families that have experienced sexual and gender-based violence.
