Stakeholders call for girl-centered spaces amid rising grooming concerns

Stakeholders call for girl-centered spaces amid rising grooming concerns. [File, Standard]

Stakeholders have called on county governments, educational institutions, and civil society organisations to establish and support girl-centered spaces across Kenya.

Speaking during the 5th Girls Assembly hosted by Polycom Girls in Nairobi, speakers warned that without deliberate action, adolescent girls remain vulnerable to grooming, exploitation, and exclusion from key decision-making spaces.

The push comes in the wake of a recent expose involving allegations of grooming by a teacher at Alliance Girls High School, raising questions about the safety of girls even in elite learning environments.

Suba North Member of Parliament Millie Odhiambo expressed concern over the rising number of early pregnancies among school-going girls, stating, "When you see a 10-year-old pregnant, it means grooming has been happening. We need policies on Sexual and Reproductive Health. Events like this are changing lives by giving girls tools and confidence to speak out and lead," she said.

Echoing her sentiments, Jane Anyango, Founder and Director of Polycom Girls, stressed the importance of creating platforms for girls to express themselves.

"Girls have moved from silence to strength-mentored by women who walked before them and now innovating for their futures," she said.

Held under the theme "Legacy in Motion: Her Voice, Her Power, Our Future," the two-day assembly brought together girls from Kibera, Homabay, Kajiado, Nairobi's informal settlements, and universities across the country. Through storytelling, art, innovation challenges, and intergenerational dialogue, participants were empowered to envision and build a just and inclusive future.

Polycom Girls, a Pan-African feminist and women-led organisation, has spent over two decades championing girl empowerment in informal settlements. Through initiatives like the Feminsipre Innovation Challenge and partnerships with organisations such as Daraja Letu Foundation, the group has helped young mothers and adolescent girls pitch community-based solutions and access mentorship and funding.

As pressure builds for real policy shifts, participants at the Assembly urged leaders at all levels to go beyond symbolic gestures and commit to long-term investments in safe, inclusive spaces where girls can lead, thrive, and transform their communities.