Narok records a rise in child pregnancies

The Children’s Department in Narok County has raised a red flag over increasing cases of child pregnancies and school dropout in the region.

Speaking at Narok District Hospital, shortly after uniting a father and his 15-year-old daughter after delivery, Children Office Social Worker, Elizabeth Kasura, expressed concerns over the trend, regretting that teachers and parents have failed to address the plight of the girl child.

“Parents should step in and assist teachers in creating awareness and need to educate the girl child in Narok,” noted Kasura.

The girl, who is a pupil at Emurok Primary School in Loita, was rushed to the facility three days ago after a midwife in the village failed to assist her give birth during an emergency.

She said that the baby’s father, is a form one student at Narok Boys High School which has since been closed.

Reports at the Children’s Department indicate that economic disparity continues to push teenage girls into early sex with an average of five weekly cases recorded.

According to the office, most culprits of early pregnancies in the area are boda boda riders, wheat and potato dealers who lure teenage girls with money especially during the harvest period.

The reports further reveal that Maasai culture also complicates the issue as parents marry off their daughters to old men as second, third or fourth wife out of fear of ridicule from the community.

More than 56 cases of early pregnancies have so far been reported in Narok County as from April this year.