According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), teenage pregnancies in Kenya have dropped to 15 percent from 18 percent. This implies that about 2 in every 5 teenage girls between the ages of 15-19 years have either had a live birth or are pregnant with their first child.

This week’s discussion focused on getting to understand what contributes to the high number of teenage pregnancies. With low representation from ladies, it was also a good opportunity for the young men to share what they think contributes to this, their roles and what we can do to address this silent pandemic. This is one of the most engaging topics that we have conducted that touches on something that affects the majority of young girls not only in Mukuru but the whole of Kenya.

With the question of the day being what contributes to these worrying and trending numbers – participants shared some very valid and shocking points on this silent pandemic. Without us understanding the root causes, it shall be hard for different stakeholders to address this and its effects. As a result of different family situations, young poor semi-educated girls have become premature mothers, at the cost of their education and development.

Some of the contributing factors highlighted during the discussion were lack of sexual and reproductive health rights education, lack of good rapport between the teens and their parents, poverty, harmful cultural practices, unavailability and availability of contraceptives, baby fever, peer pressure, adults taking advantage of the teens situation, drug and substance abuse, lack of parental guidance in sexual matters and others feeling that the girls are more informed than the boys creating a disparity.

With Mukuru being a case study, poverty and baby fever were pointed out as the main contributors of teenage pregnancies within the informal settlements. The inability of some parents to provide for their children results in teenage girls sleeping with men to buy food and other necessities for their parents. Another contributor is young women choosing to become mothers at an early age which is nowadays referred to as baby fever– this is a situation where a girl wants a child because someone else has a child – within Mukuru and other places and has been a contributor for a while. 

Many studies have stated that teen mothers are less likely to complete high school and they are also much more likely to not complete college. This puts them at a disadvantage when it comes time to find a good paying job translating to the cycle of poverty. Not many of the teen mothers get a chance to live with the fathers of their children leaving the majority of them out there suffering. These children appear from nowhere; the teens are being impregnated by men out there. We cannot call for change if we are not ready to change. Men also have a role to play in addressing this since they are the perpetrators of these teen pregnancies. 

During the conversation, sex for water was also a point of reference where women were being exploited sexually for them to get the basic commodity. This is also happening to our girls, where they are being lured into having unprotected sex in order for them to get sanitary towels among other necessities.

There are many ways in which we can curb this menace but the majority of them touch on us playing our different roles accordingly. Being a role model to children and girls around you was one of the ways highlighted during the discussion. 

‘You cannot be a drunkard and expect your children to be different from you. You cannot be doing unspeakable things and wait for different results. We must be good role models to our children and build a rapport with our children.” Participant said

For us to curb this silent pandemic and make adolescent girls become responsible adults in the future, it will require all of us to put our efforts from every angle. We are calling for different partners, non-governmental organizations and governments to effectively scale up public sensitization on teenage pregnancies to reduce the consequences.  In agreement, we must be our brothers keepers: you cannot be a bystander of someone having sexual relations with a minor. You must report that pedophile. 

One participant said “spoil your sister for her not to be spoiled by another man” meaning you should create opportunities for your sister in order to prevent her from seeking somewhere else. In this case, your sister is any girl who is around you, it doesn’t have to be your biological sister.  Join us in the next discussion as we discuss the effects of teen pregnancy and its effects on the teens mother, the child, the family, workforce and the economy. See you on Tuesday!