A Member of Parliament from Kisii County has appealed to teenage mothers to re-join schools and technical institutions to acquire knowledge and skills to exploit their potential and boost their lives.
County Woman Representative Doris Donya, addressing the girls noted that increasing teenage pregnancies in the county was worrying and calling for a combined effort to help them and also curb the rise.
She said the county, jointly with the national government will roll out a program in January 2026 to help the girls return to schools and training Institutions, urging them to register.
“ I want you to register and indicate the school or Institution you want to go so that you can be supported” Donya told more than 300 girls aged between 13 and 15 at her National Government Affirmative Action ( NGAAF) office in Kisii town during a sensitization meeting.
During the meeting, the girls, some of whom were with their children were also registered to Social Health Authority (SHA) to enable them access health care services.
Aburi attributed the increasing cases of teenage pregnancies to defilement and appealed to the government to impose stiff penalties to defilers to deter others, saying, they were ruining the lives of girl-child.
The Mp implored parents whose children were mothers to take them to health facilities so that they can embrace Family Planning to avoid getting more pregnancies.
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“The girls can abandon the contraceptives and get more children when they want or get married. We only want to curb more pregnancies to allow them focus on their education and complete” Donya noted.
The Legislator noted unwanted pregnancies have burdened the girl-child and their parents, noting that most of the parents are forced to leave their work and focus on caring for the children, impoverishing them.
She appealed to parents and guardians shun kangaroo courts and negotiate with defilers to drop defilement cases in exchange for money, saying, they also risked arrest, prosecution and prolonged jail terms.
“ How can you negotiate with a person who has defiled your daughter and ruined her life. That is wrong and unacceptable. Let law take its course” Donya noted.
Peris Ongori, a Lecturer at Kisii National Polytechnic said there are several Girls with children who returned to Technical Institutions, acquired skills and boosted their lives.
She challenged parents to help care for the children as the girls pursued their dreams, noting that teenage pregnancies should not be used as excuses for the girls not to pursue their dreams and excel.
“Giving birth as a teenager does not mean that your dream has been dashed. You have a second chance to exploit your potential and excel like other children” Ongori noted
By Emmanuel Gwakoi
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