Counties Launch Campaign to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy

County governments across Kenya are stepping up efforts to curb the rising tide of teenage pregnancies through coordinated campaigns and community partnerships. In Kajiado, the Imarisha Msichana programme was officially launched by FAWE Kenya with support from the Mastercard Foundation. The initiative targets girls aged 9–18 and young women up to 25, focusing on life-skills education, sexual and reproductive health, and re-entry into school for teenage mothers. Tuseme clubs — safe spaces in schools — are being set up to encourage open dialogue about sexuality, peer pressure, and gender-based challenges.
Elsewhere, Kilifi County has unveiled the Interfaith Adolescent Girls’ Health Hub Project, a faith‑based intervention that mobilizes religious leaders from different denominations to tackle teen pregnancy and early marriage. Local leaders hope that messaging from trusted faith figures can help reshape community norms, especially in sub-counties like Magarini and Rabai, where teenage pregnancies remain a deep concern. Meanwhile, in Nakuru County, a multi-sectoral forum brought together the health, education, social services, and law-enforcement departments to tackle the root causes of adolescent pregnancies. The county is also scaling up youth‑friendly reproductive health services — including contraceptive counselling, mental health support, and social reintegration through the Binti Shujaa model.
Community leaders, youth advocates, and county officials are welcoming the campaigns as a turning point — but they also warn that sustainability will require long-term commitment and funding. In Kisumu County, Nominated Senator Catherine Mumma emphasized that early pregnancy, HIV, and gender-based violence form a syndemic threat.She called for more comprehensive sex education in schools and better access to menstrual hygiene products, noting that some girls engage in transactional sex simply to afford sanitary pads. Youth-led initiatives, such as the Power to Youth programme, are also extending the fight against both FGM and teenage pregnancy by training young people to lead community dialogues. As these county campaigns gather momentum, stakeholders say their ultimate success will hinge on breaking social taboos, ensuring consistent funding, and creating safe, youth-centred platforms that empower girls to make informed choices about their futures.