Concern as 18 schoolgirls fall pregnant

By Daniel Psirmoi

Mt Elgon, Kenya:  Shocked residents of Emia location in Mt Elgon Constituency are trying to digest news that more than 18 underage girls of one primary school are confirmed to be pregnant.

The Chepkurkur Primary School girls were confirmed to be pregnant last week during a stormy Parents and Teachers Association meeting. The girls have subsequently dropped out of school. The news has left residents in disbelief, with majority of them seeking to know the identity of those who put the girls in the family way.

In what may leave gender and girl-child right activists seething with rage, all the victims are minors including one girl who is in Standard Four.

Speaking to The Standard in Kopsiro, acting District Officer Peter Kiprop, who attended the parents’ meeting said the Provincial Administration has launched an investigation to apprehend those responsible.

Threats

“Girls in the school have been getting pregnant at an alarming rate.  One girl in Class Four, five in Class Six, eight in Standard Seven and four were supposed to sit final Class Eight national examinations this year,” Kiprop told The Standard.

According to the administrator, the parents at the meeting admitted laxity in exercising responsibility over their children. It was also established that some of the parents have allegedly received threats from offenders, who include pupils in the school.

A concerned parent, who requested anonymity, pointed an accusing finger at some security officers at Banantega camp situated a few kilometres from the school.