Lamu Leaders Put on the Spot as Teenage Pregnancy Cases Soar Past 1,000
Lamu County is facing mounting criticism after new data revealed an alarming spike in teenage pregnancies, with rights groups accusing local and national leaders of failing to protect vulnerable girls. According to reports submitted to the Presidential Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, more than 1,073 girls in Lamu have become pregnant since 2024—many due to rape, defilement, or child marriage. Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) now warn that the situation reflects a systemic breakdown in safeguarding children’s rights.
The findings show 789 cases recorded in 2024 and an additional 284 between January and May 2025, adding to national concerns following a separate report by the National Syndemic Disease Control Council, which indicated that an estimated 696 Kenyan adolescents fall pregnant every day. KHRC notes that the crisis is worst in counties already flagged in the 2022 KDHS survey, prompting the organisation to issue symbolic red cards to the Health Cabinet Secretary and governors of high-burden counties. The groups also dispatched formal petitions to Parliament and the Council of Governors demanding urgent interventions, including clear policies on sexual education, enforcement of school re-entry guidelines, and improved psychosocial support for pregnant learners.
Despite these repeated appeals, KHRC and MUHURI say no action has been taken. Legislators, governors, and education officials have allegedly failed to respond to the letters or provide a plan to curb teenage pregnancies. Advocates warn that the silence leaves young girls exposed to sexual violence, denies them access to reproductive health services, and pushes many out of school permanently. Communities in Lamu have been urged to demand accountability, particularly as many families continue to face stigma and cultural barriers when reporting abuse or seeking support for affected children.
With the 2027 general election approaching, human rights groups argue that voters must scrutinise the track record of leaders entrusted with protecting children and upholding Kenya’s education and health standards. KHRC insists that county chiefs, the Education Cabinet Secretary, and the Health Ministry must urgently appear before parliamentary committees to explain their failure to enforce existing policies. The organisations warn that unless swift action is taken, more girls in Lamu and other affected counties will lose life-defining opportunities.