Settling of cases outside the court is to blame for the rising number of teenage pregnancies among school-going children in Meru.
Igembe Pastors Network Chairman Bishop Julius Gitaari blamed the local authorities who are fond of settling the cases outside the court saying this encourages vice because the culprits evade appropriate punishment.
He regretted that when no legal action is taken against the culprits they will continue to impregnate the innocent girls.
“When the culprits don’t get the appropriate punishment they revert back to the vice. The best solution is for the culprits to face the full force of the law because this will also ensure the victims get justice apart from ending the vice,” said Bishop Gitaari.
He said there was a need to come out as the church and collaborate with the government to ensure that those who will be caught having impregnated a teenager will face the full force of the law.
His sentiments come after a section of Meru leaders and clergy raised concerns over the rising number of teenage pregnancies in the area.
Speaking in Igembe North constituency during a meeting with over 500 women from various women groups, the leaders vowed to do all it takes to ensure the vice is completely eradicated in the area.
Led by Meru Woman representative Elizabeth Kailemia, the leaders said the underlying drivers of teenage pregnancy are complex and include gender-based violence, child marriage, poverty and sexual violence.
“My office is organizing a teenage meeting before school reopens where I will invite various stakeholders in both education and community so that we can talk to our boys and girls before the situation goes out of hand”, Kailemia said.
By John Majau
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