This archive report was first published on 5 June 2020.
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, Kenya is facing a daunting challenge. The past three months have been a trying time for the country, with many losing their jobs and the economy on the brink of collapse.
Unfortunately, the pandemic has not taken a break from the usual problems that plague Kenya. In fact, some of these issues are likely to be exacerbated by the crisis. One such disaster is teenage pregnancy, which is already a significant concern in the country.
According to a 2019 report by the National Council on Population and Development, there were 379,373 teenage pregnancies in Kenya. This is a staggering number, and it's even more alarming when you consider that some counties, such as Narok, have a teenage pregnancy rate of 40%.
The situation is likely to worsen this year, with schools having been closed for a longer period of time. The leading causes of teenage pregnancy are poverty, rape or defilement, early marriages, and the lack of youth-friendly health facilities.
With the lockdown and cessation of movement, organizations that provide essential services to rural areas are unable to operate, leaving teenage girls even more vulnerable. It's essential that the government and other stakeholders take action to address this issue.
As the government unveils stimulus packages to cushion the economy, it's crucial that social problems like teenage pregnancy are not ignored. The judicial system also has a critical role to play in addressing this issue, as rape cases often crawl through the system, discouraging people from pursuing justice.
Law enforcers should be vigilant for such crimes during this period, and health facilities should ensure that teenagers looking for contraceptives are not turned away. Social services for children should also continue to be funded, and declared essential services if necessary.
As a society, we should be working towards ensuring that the new normal will not be worse than what we had before the pandemic. The probability of hundreds of thousands of teenage girls getting pregnant should jolt us into action.
