But unknown to him, in two years’ time, he will be strapped to a life-long burden; Karari will be ‘licensed’ to indulge in sex - cushioned by Kenyan law - and immune to parental consent.
A Bill sponsored by nominated senator Judith Sijeny, seeks to provide children as young as ten years with ‘reproductive health services (RHS)’. The Bill, brought to the floor of the legislative assembly in June, caused an uproar. The reactions of Kenyans on social media mirror the stale taste the proposed law has left in many parents’ mouths.
“My first reaction, immediately I saw it in the news, was that something is very wrong with a society that can contemplate absolving ten-year-olds from seeking parental guidance on matters sex,” Esther Muthini, Karari’s mother says. “My son is only eight now and when I think that in two years he will be of legal age to carry contraceptives around (which also means he will be engaging in sex), I feel sick to my stomach.”
Provisions in Sijeny’s Bill indicate that any person from age ten won’t need parental consent to access reproductive health services.
Senator Sijeny refused to take responsibility, insisting that the section of the Bill being peddled alongside verbatim does not talk of contraception and neither does it mention issuance of condoms to children.
While we can vouch for Sijeny that the particular section on adolescents does not mention contraception of any kind, stakeholders across the board, especially parents, feel that provisions that make parental consent unnecessary are sinister and would only serve as a plug into a Pandora’s Box.
“I am my children’s leeway into their future. Who they turn out to be, is dependent on me. Parents, since creation, are in charge of moulding their children’s future. I have a problem with my child getting sex-related services without my consent from a person I may not know. No authority ordered me to give birth and in the same breath, I don’t need them to distort my child’s understanding of sex,” says Esther.
While the Bill does not explicitly mention free contraceptives for ten-year-olds, Esther remains apprehensive. According to her, the phrase ‘reproductive health services’ is enough to imply contraception. If indeed her premises hold some water, is our society ready for ten as the new 18?
Experts say we aren’t: “The pre-teen’s psychological state struggles with peer pressure. They have no idea of the implications of having sex at that age. They are just starting to try out new things and discovering their environment. So, unconsciously – when they’re allowed to have sex as long as protection is involved – what message does it send to them?” asks Catherine Mbau.
Mbau, a counselling psychologist at Arise Counseling Services, points out that for pre-teens, the earlier they get involved in both coital and non-coital sexual experiences, the higher the risk of multiple partners and sexually transmitted disease in future.
Further, having sex at such a young age is psychologically damaging. Adolescents are exposed to low self-esteem, depression and self-loathing. This will in turn lead to defiant behaviour, anger and eventually a drop in grades. They might take up risky habits such as substance abuse and prostitution to numb the overwhelming emotions of engaging in sex before they were emotionally ready.
According to Dr John Ong’ech, a reproductive health specialist at Kenyatta National Hospital, a human being’s body is ready for sex at age 18.
“Scientifically, this is the time most parts of the body achieve maturity. Earlier than this, any kind of sexual activity is detrimental and likely to harm the growing adolescent,” he says.
In his description of ‘reproductive health services’, Ong’ech confirms that contraception and condoms are a primary and fundamental part of the business, an understanding that rings true to concerned parents like Anne Mbugua. Anne, a mother of two girls and a boy, feels that governance is encroaching into the personal space of parents.
She says: “The Government cannot take up the role of parents. We are not perfect people, but parents know what is best for their children. If my adolescent child is getting RHS, I have to know what service it is and from whom. My consent is a must and no rule of confidentiality can apply. What children need as they grow up is education and information. There is no better person than a parent to do that.”
Proponents of the Bill argue that children are engaging in sex behind their parents’ back. Sophie Kibebe, Anne’s 17-year-old daughter, admits that she knows of her peers who are sexually active.
Evidence points out that the youngest mother to have ever been documented in Kenya is an 11-year-old from Kericho. It would, therefore, be reckless to ignore the stirrings of adolescent lust: an undeniable state of the human condition.
“This notwithstanding,” interjects Anne, “providing ten to 17-year-olds with access to contraceptives will only make the situation worse. They will become disoriented and turn into zealots of immorality. What they need is proper guidance from parents and adults close to them – not strangers working for the Government.”
But according to Sophie, teachers at school are best-placed to talk to adolescents about sexuality. She cites that her peers (including herself), are shy and find it easier to get advice from their teachers instead of parents who may come across as authoritative and less friendly.
Sophie’s sentiments are supported by Christine Njambi, Esther’s 18-year-old daughter who serves as a peer counsellor at her school. Christine says: “Young people prefer speaking to their teachers. It is very uncomfortable discussing sex with parents. However, parents have our best interests.”
She holds that students like her should be helped to find value in education instead of being provided with contraception. Speaking on KTN, Edward Ondachi, a youth pastor at Mavuno Church pointed out that it is a high time parents understand the situation with their adolescents in order to advise them well.
As parents who have successfully addressed sexuality with their teenage children, both Esther and Anne agree unanimously that parents remain the experts of child upbringing.
Few instances of tragedies in society, they say, cannot be enough reason to force contraception to all young people – majority of whom have no prior sex experience. Ten is not the new 18, they declare.
Photos: abcnewsradioonline.com
