Education stakeholders in Meru county have raised concern as the region continues to record high rate of teenage pregnancies.
According to recent data from the Kenya Health Information System, under the Ministry of Health, the county’s teen pregnancy prevalence rate stands at a staggering 28 percent.
This is significantly higher than the national average of 17 percent.
The surge has led to a rise in school dropouts rate with Buuri and Igembe regions being the hardest hit.
This has also heightened health risks for young girls in Imenti North, Central, and South.
In response to the growing crisis, a stakeholders’ forum was recently held in Meru, bringing together religious leaders including Muslim imams,clergy, community elders, government officials, and NGOs dedicated to social welfare.
The goal of the gathering was to formulate a unified approach to addressing the alarming trend.
Bishop Silas Mugo of the National African Independent Church of East Africa (NICA), Meru branch, stressed the importance of collaboration among religious, traditional, and political leaders in tackling the issue head-on.
“We must work together across all sectors to protect our children and secure their future,” he said.
Imam Abdikadir Ousam of Meru Prison echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for open conversations around teenage sexuality and the role of comprehensive sex education in preventing early pregnancies.
“Honest discussions about sex education are not a luxury, they are a necessity,” Imam Ousam said.
Speakers at the forum also underscored the critical role of parents, urging families to engage more deeply in guiding and supporting their children through adolescence.
With the crisis intensifying, stakeholders are now calling for sustained, community-driven solutions to protect young girls and ensure they stay in school.
