Mt Elgon Deputy Principal fears for his life following pregnancy expose

BUNGOMA: Chelebei Secondary School Deputy Principal David Emachar now claims residents are threatening him for exposing the pregnancy of 20 girls at the institution.

Mr Emachar told Bungoma County Woman Representative Reginalda Wanyonyi who toured the institution yesterday that he was being threatened.

“I feel insecure. Everywhere I pass the locals are insulting me. I am calling on the Government to transfer me to a safe place where I can discharge my duties without interference,” he said.

On Wednesday, Emachar said 20 girls from his school had been impregnated by fellow male students, local traders and boda boda riders. But Chelebei Principal Peter Kororia and Bungoma County Commissioner Maalim Mohammed disputed the number, saying only 10 are expectant. “I am the school’s official spokesperson. Forget about the earlier number and go with this. We do not have such a high number of pregnant girls in school,” said Mr Kororia.

Kororia identified the culprits who impregnated the 10 girls as fellow students and school dropouts. Commissioner Mohammed asked national and county governments to speed up plans to establish a rescue centre for girls in Mt Elgon. Only two years ago, 18 girls in neighbouring Chepkurkur Primary School were found pregnant.

Mohammed said a girl’s rescue centre should be opened at Cheptais as problems affecting the girl child in the region need to be tackled from all angles. The centre is expected to offer shelter, advocacy, counselling, a witness support programme and education to the afflicted.

He said chiefs will help monitor the cases and report the findings to authorities. Ms Wanyonyi called on teenage girls to focus on their education and not be lured by men with a few coins.

“Girls, you were made in a wonderful way. Do not allow yourself to be used and dumped. For those who have fallen victim, do not get discouraged; carry on with your studies because your future lies in your hands,” she said.

The students were found to be in the ‘family way’ after a routine checkup by the school administration when this term began. The school has a population of 400 students, with 171 girls only.