Worrying trend as school in Kitale records 20 underage mothers

At least 20 girls at Bwala Secondary School in Kitale, Trans Zoia County are underage mothers.

Teachers and parents revealed that eight of the girls sitting their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam at the school are also mothers.

It also emerged that the men responsible for the pregnancies are roaming free despite impregnating underage girls.

Two students: Ann* and Linda* aged 16 and 17 are had babies last year.

“Haikuwa rahisi kurudi shuleni baada ya kupata mimba,” Ann* told Citizen TV.

She is among tens of others countrywide who have either given birth or had already become mothers by the time they sat for the exam.

At Bwala Secondary School, the matter has somewhat become a crisis with parents blaming absentee teachers.

“Walimu wanatoka shule mapema ndio watoto wanatoroka shule,” John Kibet, a parent, said.

However, the headteacher defended his team saying the problem lies with the parents.

“Wazazi ndio wanakaa na wanafunzi sana ni wajibu wao kuwalea wanafunzi ipasavyo,” Richard Mabonga, the head teacher said.

Kenya’s 2014 demographic and health survey shows that at least two in every 10 girls aged between 15 and 19 are mothers.

Education CS Amina Mohammed recently ordered investigations into the rising cases of teen pregnancy after scores of KCPE and KCSE candidates gave birth during the examinations.

In Narok, authorities are planning an unprecedented measure to handle the crisis after it was revealed that over 30 KCSE candidates missed their exam due to pregnancy and early marriages.

The area county commissioner George Natembeya said all school girls will be medically tested for pregnancies starting January next year.

Narok, Trans Nzoia, Nairobi, Nakuru, Homabay and Kwale are some of the counties with high number of cases.