Youth seek action to reduce teenage pregnancies, FGM

Youths graduate from a one month alternative rite of passage in West Pokot County, receive their certificates. This is a boost to efforts to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) that is rampant in the region. 248 girls and 60 boys were part of the program.[FILE/Standard] A section of youth have raised concerns over lack of information on reproductive health and inadequate funding for programmes aimed at curbing teenage pregnancies, early forced marriages, female genital mutilation (FGM), and drug abuse. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) 2022 Demographic and Health Survey, West Pokot County ranks second in teenage pregnancies at 36 per cent while FGM prevalence is 44 per cent. This means that out of every 100 girls in the county, 36 are pregnant or expectant. Most adolescents lack adequate knowledge of sexual and reproductive health, leading to high school dropout rate, unsafe abortions, and limited future opportunities. Youth leaders now want adolescent-friendly services at health facilities, supported by trained staff and a dedicated budget for advocacy. The concerns were raised during the Annual Adolescents and Youth Sexual Reproductive Health Symposium held at Mtelo Hall, Kapenguria. Youth advocate Marcelina Cherupia, founder of Fibre Africa, called for the inclusion of adults in youth spaces. "There is a need to equip youths and interact with them," she said. Faric Nadwa of Fiber Kenya emphasised the need to create empowerment centres to keep young people meaningfully engaged. "Idleness contributes to many vices because it is the root of every evil. We go to the grassroots to talk to youths in remote areas because not every youth can access social media," he said. Winnie Chepto of Sikom Network for Development stressed that most adolescents make uninformed decisions due to a lack of access to reproductive health information. "Adolescents don't make their own informed choices as leaders and elders decide for them. We have been championing issues on reproductive health, family planning, and sexuality education through talk shows, dialogue platforms, and media advocacy," she said. She added that weak approaches to tackling retrogressive practices have worsened the situation. "Hard economic times have made things worse. Pregnant adolescents face negative social consequences, leading them to drop out of school, which reduces their employability and undermines their future," she said. West Pokot County Gender Officer Emanuel Oigo linked FGM to early marriage and warned that teenage pregnancies are rising. "Teenage pregnancies rose from 26 per cent in 2014 to 36 per cent in 2022, even though FGM cases dropped from 72 per cent to 44 per cent. Many girls are still dropping out of school," he said. County Director of Sports, Youth Affairs, and Social Services Joseph Tonyirwo said the administration is supporting young people through sports and empowerment centres in Chepareria and Makutano. State Department of Youth Assistant Director Michael Odunga said the government is working with agencies to tackle drug abuse, especially in Sigor and Makutano, where cheap liquor from Uganda is flooding the market. "We have interacted with youths and taken their challenges. The government has devolved funds like the Uwezo Fund, the Women Enterprise Fund, and the NGAAF. Youths out of school can now access grants of up to Sh50,000 through the Nyota program and acquire job training skills," he said. Misa Mohammed, Program Health Officer at Action Against Hunger (ACF), said the patriarchal society in West Pokot has worsened gender-based violence and reproductive health challenges. "We do community engagement to eliminate gender-based violence and build capacity among youth. Many young women suffer mental health issues linked to FGM, and some lack psychosocial support," she said. Consolata Siree, County Reproductive Health Officer, called for collaboration among stakeholders and the media to spread awareness. "Early pregnancies cause psychological stress that leads many students to drop out of school. Youths must understand their reproductive health and rights, and everyone has a responsibility to ensure they have access to health facilities," she said. Stakeholders concluded that without urgent investment in reproductive health and youth programs, teenage pregnancies, early marriages, and FGM will continue undermining the future of young people in West Pokot.

Youth seek action to reduce teenage pregnancies, FGM

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