- A boda boda sector leader in Nyamira has raised alarm over rising cases of teenage pregnancies, warning that school-going girls are being lured to hideouts.
- Gilbert Nyamao says some boda boda riders are being used to transport minors without questioning their destinations.
- He wants parents, teachers, religious leaders and authorities to work together to protect girls and safeguard their education.
Boda boda sector leader in Nyamira, Gilbert Nyamao, has raised alarm over rising cases of teenage pregnancies, saying some girls are being misled into hideouts where they later return home with unwanted pregnancies.
Speaking in Nyamira town, Nyamao said peers and irresponsible adults are convincing school-going girls to sneak out to hidden places during weekends and school holidays.
“Most people are misleading our girls. They are taken to hideouts, and when they come back home, it is already too late. They return with unwanted pregnancies that ruin their education and future,” Nyamao said.
He noted that boda boda operators witness many of these movements across villages and trading centres. According to him, some riders are being misused to transport minors to and from such places without asking questions.
Nyamao called on parents to take a more active role in protecting their daughters, especially during the holiday period.
“I am telling parents to monitor their daughters closely during the holiday and assist them to grow without any interference as they navigate the transformational journey between childhood and adulthood,” he said.
He added that this is a critical stage in a girl’s life and requires guidance, open communication and supervision to ensure they are not lured into destructive behaviour.
Parents urged to remain vigilant
The sector leader further urged parents to work with teachers, church leaders and local administrators to keep girls engaged in constructive activities. He said boda boda operators are also ready to partner with authorities by refusing to carry schoolchildren to questionable places and by reporting suspicious cases.
Nyamao also asked the county government and the Ministry of Education to strengthen guidance and counselling in schools and to ensure that perpetrators who impregnate schoolgirls face the law.
Community members who attended the meeting supported his remarks, citing peer pressure, idleness and lack of parental supervision as key drivers of the problem.
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He concluded by encouraging girls to focus on their education and to avoid company and places that may jeopardise their future.
By Enock Okong’o
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Nyamira boda boda sector leader Gilbert Nyamao speaks in Nyamira town as he calls for stronger community action to protect school-going girls from teenage pregnancies.
