The government has warned that all individuals involved in defiling young girls will be arrested and prosecuted as part of renewed efforts to curb teenage pregnancies and protect children from sexual abuse.
Speaking during a community dialogue and survivor forum in Rombo Ward, Kajiado South, Anti-FGM Board Chairperson Ipato Surum said the government was determined to eliminate teenage pregnancies and ensure perpetrators face the law.
“We will pursue every suspect responsible for impregnating our young girls, charge them with defilement, and ensure they take full responsibility for the pregnancy and the child born,” said Surum.
“The government cannot continue investing heavily in the future of our children while some individuals are busy destroying that future,” she added.
Surum noted that although the Anti-FGM Board’s primary mandate is to eliminate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), the harmful practice remains closely linked to teenage pregnancies, school dropouts, and early marriages.
“In Kajiado County, the FGM prevalence rate stands at 22 percent. While we are working to eradicate the practice, we are deeply concerned by the rising cases of teenage pregnancies, partly driven by ignorance and indiscipline within the community,” she said.
She urged mothers and guardians to take a more active role in guiding and mentoring their daughters while educating them about the dangers of early pregnancies and child marriages.
Anti-FGM Board Chief Executive Officer Bernadette Loloju described the situation in Rombo Ward as alarming, revealing that 115 girls in Grades 9 and 10 are currently pregnant.
“There are many grown women you can form relationships with. Please stay away from young girls,” Loloju said while addressing men in the community.
She reiterated that the government would strictly enforce the Sexual Offences Act to ensure all perpetrators are brought to justice.
“We cannot normalise the destruction of young girls’ futures. Every child deserves education, protection, and the opportunity to achieve their dreams,” she said.
Loloju emphasised the importance of educating the girl child and abandoning harmful cultural practices such as FGM, warning that societies that neglect girls’ education risk undermining their own development.
“A society that does not educate its girls is a society preparing itself for failure because women are the pillars of society,” she added.
She further called on parents to instil discipline and self-control among both boys and girls to secure a better future for communities.
Loloju also disclosed that the East African Community Anti-FGM Bill is currently undergoing public participation, with Kenya actively contributing to its development.
Anti-FGM champion Anastacia Mashipei said community sensitisation efforts would continue both in schools and at the household level to educate girls on the dangers of teenage pregnancy and early marriage.
“We will continue working with schools, parents, and local leaders to ensure girls remain in school and are protected from exploitation,” Mashipei said.
She added that, with support from the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), community leaders would help identify and pursue individuals responsible for impregnating underage girls.
Former circumciser Rosy Kipapa said she abandoned the practice after learning about its harmful effects and has since dedicated herself to championing girl-child empowerment through education.
“I realised that FGM only destroys the lives of girls. Today, I encourage parents to educate their daughters and protect them from harmful traditions,” Kipapa said.
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According to the Kajiado County Department of Health, more than 2,000 cases of teenage pregnancies involving girls aged between 10 and 19 years were recorded between January and March this year, raising concern among education, health, and child protection stakeholders.
Community leaders and anti-FGM activists now say stronger collaboration between government agencies, schools, parents, and local communities will be critical in addressing the rising cases and safeguarding the future of vulnerable girls in the county.
By Kimutai Langat
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