Gender-based violence and teenage pregnancies is a big problem in Bungoma county, an advocacy report has revealed
Silver Julie, the director Silver Shield Organisation was speaking at Uwanja Ndege in Bungoma town on Sunday when she met teenagers from the county.
She said the event aims to guide and counsel school girls and boys on the effects of early pregnancy.
Julie said her organisation targets to fight GBV and teenage pregnancy in the entire Bungoma adding that Mt Elgon and Bumula constituencies have in the past recorded high numbers of teenage pregnancy.
“At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic I was shocked with the number of teenage pregnancies recorded in Bungoma, it made me rise up and start engaging young girls,” she said.
Julie said that her organisation also partners with others to distribute sanitary pads and boxers to the learners.
“I normally work with school heads where I visit and encourage learners,” she said.
She added that her organisation also ensures that there is stable mental health in schools.
Julie decried high numbers of vulnerable girls in Bungoma schools adding that many miss out on lessons because they lack money to buy sanitary pads.
“Out of the schools we visited in Bungoma for the talks I have identified a good number of learners who lack sanitary pads,” she said.
She noted that the organisations that partnered with hers to supply sanitary pads to school include Bungoma Youth Umbrella Shield, Bungoma Youth Connect and civil society organisations within Bungoma.
However, Julie noted that she formed 40 health clubs in school that help in mentoring the young generation.
She said without mentoring the young people then the country and the region may end up missing on important people who can shape and propel Kenya to the next level.
“We can’t sit back and watch as the young generation is destroyed, I will keep watch to ensure that I rescue the young generation,” she said.
She also urged parents to reject settling rape, defilement cases in Kangaroo courts because if the trend continues the county faces a future without good women and men.
Tracyter Mutala, president Bungoma Youth Umbrella Shield said that starting on November 25, Kenya will be celebrating 16 days of activism against GBV she urged county and national governments to chip in and sensitise the community.