Dr. Idah Odinga has faulted boda boda riders in Siaya County for taking advantage of school girls by giving them money in exchange for sex, a situation that has led to an increase in teen pregnancies in the county.
“Our young girls must be educated. When we educate our children we have intentions to make them better people in future. You can imagine how a parent feels knowing that their child is pregnant and cannot go back to school until the baby arrives. Boda boda riders must know that the Ksh200 they give our girls in exchange for their bodies cannot sort out problems,” she added.
Speaking in Gem, Dr. Odinga urged Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) in the county to provide sex education to school girls in order to reduce the rising cases of teenage pregnancies in the county.
She stated that they should sensitize the young girls during their visits to households for a start.
“One of the roles I want our CHVs to play at the village level is offering sex education to reduce cases of early pregnancies. I want our girls to stay in school. It is unfortunate that most of the girls getting pregnant are supposed to sit for national exams,” she said.
Siaya recorded an increase in teenage pregnancies in the year 2022 standing at 21 per cent from 17.2 per cent in 2021 between girls aged 15-19 years according to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) statistics, putting the county at position nine in rates of teen pregnancy where Samburu County topped with 50 per cent.
By Vostine Ratemo
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