On 7th March 2024, The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) brought to the attention of the nation a pressing issue plaguing our society: the crisis of unintended teenage pregnancies, which is a gross human rights violation. Statistics from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022 report indicated that the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Kenya stood at 15% among adolescent girls aged 15 - 19 years with some counties such as Samburu having the highest prevalence at 50%.

Further, a report by the National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC) revealed that 696 adolescent girls were impregnated daily in 2023.  As a result of these shocking and alarming statistics, The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) launched the red card campaign where we red carded twenty (20) governors and the CS for Health for abetting pregnancies among adolescents' girls by failing to develop and implement sufficient policy frameworks to protect our adolescent girls. The twenty governors represent counties with the highest cases of teenage pregnancies in percentages and in absolute numbers as reported by the KDHS 2022 report. The red carded governors leading in percentages included:

  1. Samburu’s Jonathan Lelelit – 50%
  2. West Pokot’s Simon Kachapin – 36%
  3. Marsabit’s Mohammud Ali – 29%
  4. Migori’s Ochilo Ayako – 23%
  5. Kajiado’s Joseph Ole Lenku – 21%
  6. Baringo’s Benjamin Chesire Cheboi – 20%
  7. Siaya’s James Orengo – 20%
  8. Taita Taveta’s Andrew Mwadime – 18%
  9. Trans Nzoia’s George Natembeya – 17%
  10. Isiolo’s Abdi Ibrahim Hassan – 16%

The red carded governors leading in numbers included.

  1. Nairobi’s Johnson Sakaja- (452)
  2. Kakamega’s Fernandes Barasa - (328)
  3. Bungoma’s Kenneth Lusaka - (294)
  4. Nakuru’s Susan Kihika - (283)
  5. Kiambu’s Kimani Wamatangi - (267)
  6. Kilifi’s Gideon Mung’aro - (224)
  7. Meru’s Kawira Mwangaza - (206)
  8. Kisii’s Simba Arati- (192)
  9. Machakos’ Wavinya Ndeti - (178)
  10. Narok’s Patrick Ole Ntutu - (176)

We also called on the following to take decisive actions to mitigate unintended adolescent pregnancies:

  1. The Ministry of Health to recommit to the Eastern and Southern Africa Commitment on comprehensive sexual education.
  2. The Ministry of Education to ensure that every teenage girl who falls pregnant is unconditionally permitted back to school and provided with the necessary psychosocial support without discrimination.
  3. Governor Kenneth Lusaka to retract his statement against schoolgirls who fall pregnant and commit to facilitating their education.
  4. The Council of Governors to interrogate the crisis as a matter of urgency and offer a collective voice on policy issues affecting the prevention and management of teenage pregnancies in Kenya.
  5. The parents in line with the Children’s Act and the constitution of Kenya to promote the well-being and welfare of their children.

To follow up on the red cards, we sustained a comprehensive mainstream and social media campaign to urge the 20 governors to take proactive measures to address the alarming rates of teenage pregnancies in their counties and to also stir a national conversation on this crisis.

Beyond issuing the red cards and the media campaign, we sent official letters to the 20 governors asking them to explain the specific practical interventions and guidelines they have developed to address the crisis of teenage pregnancies in their respective counties. None of the governors have replied to our request.

Recognizing that the plight of these adolescent girls cannot be ignored and the need to take swift and decisive actions to protect the rights, dignity and well-being of our girls, we have decided to exercise our right to petition parliament as provided for in articles 119 and 37 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.

PETITIONS TO THE SENATE AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

The two Petitions brought under Articles 1, 2, 3, 10, 19, 27, 28, 29, 37, 43, 95, 118 and 119 of the Constitution of Kenya, Petitions to Parliament (Procedures) Act and Standing Orders 219 and 223 of The National Assembly was filed and received on the 18th of April 2024 at the Senate and National Assembly main records unit. In the petition to the Senate, the KHRC urges the Senate to;

  1. Within reasonable time, summon the twenty (20) governors from counties with the highest rates of teenage pregnancies to explain the specific practical interventions and guidelines they have developed to address the crisis of teenage pregnancies in their respective counties.

In the petition to the National Assembly, the KHRC urges the National Assembly to,

  1. Within reasonable time summon the Cabinet Secretary for The Ministry of Health to appear before it for the purpose of explaining the policy interventions and guidelines the Ministry has developed on sexual and reproductive health for our adolescent girls and elucidate Kenya’s commitment to the Eastern and Southern Africa Commitment on comprehensive sexual education.  
  2. Summon the Cabinet Secretary for The Ministry of Education to appear before it for the purpose of explaining the policy interventions and guidelines that the Ministry has taken to ensure that every adolescent girl who falls pregnant is unconditionally permitted back to school and provided with the necessary psychosocial support without discrimination.

These petitions reflect our unwavering commitment to advocating for the rights and welfare of adolescent girls across the country and our firm belief in the accountability of governmental institutions to address these critical issues. We trust that Parliament will exercise its mandate under articles 95 and 96 of the constitution and respond with the urgency and gravity that this matter demands to effect meaningful oversight for the sake of the future of our nation.

Thank you.

Signed,

Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC)