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.