By Ally JamaH

A new study shows high rates of sexual activity among teenagers despite knowing the risks of such behaviour.

The research indicates that children as young as 13 have plunged into the world of unprotected sex, often with multiple sex partners.

The report says the teens are not only having sex relations with their peers, but also with much older people. This was often accompanied with alcohol and drug abuse.

" Most teenagers know unprotected sex with multiple partners may result in diseases like HIV but they still do it," said Barbara Koech, who conducted the research on behalf of the Government.

Urban areas

Many teens, especially in urban areas, procure abortions in case of pregnancy, says the report presented to the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Development Esther Murugi by the Kenyatta University lecturer, yesterday.

"The teens often engage in sex for material gain or to gain a sense of prestige from their peers," she said.

The report said teens have become more exposed to sexual material in mass media, which has encouraged their escapades.

"They receive sexual orientation through the media and not through sex education programmes in schools which they resent," said Dr Koech

Sexually charged material has become available in urban centres thanks to duplicate videos and the Internet.

Teens can access the Internet through unsupervised cyber cafes or their mobile phones.

The report blamed parents for being too preoccupied to manage their children. It lamented the high cases of teen prostitution and trafficking in urban centres, especially in Nairobi, the Coast Province and Kisumu.

Teenagers are on demand in tourist hotels and entertainment joints, where they are preferred to mature women.

Abusive teachers

Owing to a rise in cases of children being sexually abused by teachers, Mrs Murugi said she had written to Teachers Service Commission demanding action.

"We want to make sure abusive teachers are not just transferred but sacked and prosecuted," she said.

The minister also announced an audit of the country’s 800 orphanages to curb sexual abuse in children’s homes.

"No new children homes will be registered until we audit and certify the ones we have, to ensure our children’s safety," she said.

Many cases of sexual abuse of children often go unreported.