NAIROBI, Kenya — The government has called for collective action from families, communities, and institutions to protect children and reduce teenage pregnancies, warning that safeguarding Kenya’s youth must not be left solely to government agencies.
Appearing before the Senate plenary on Wednesday, Gender, Culture and Children’s Services Cabinet Secretary Hannah Cheptumo said addressing teenage pregnancies requires a united national effort — beginning with early education, awareness, and active engagement by parents and communities.
“We still need more funds because this is a societal problem, and we must all address it together,” Cheptumo told Senators, noting that the government’s efforts are supported by the World Bank and other partners.
The CS urged parents to closely monitor and guide children, especially during school holidays, to protect them from exploitation and early pregnancies.
Teenage Pregnancy Trends
Latest data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that teenage pregnancies remain highest in Nairobi City, Kakamega, Bungoma, and Narok counties.
In 2024, Nairobi, Bungoma, and Kakamega accounted for between 4.2 and 6.2 per cent of adolescent pregnancies, while Narok registered between 2.8 and 4.1 per cent.
Overall, the number of adolescents aged 10–19 years presenting with pregnancy during first antenatal visits declined by 1.9 per cent to 253,300 in 2024.
Among them, pregnancies among girls aged 10–14 dropped by 9.5 per cent, while those aged 15–19 fell by 1.5 per cent.
The 2025 survey recorded a further 4.8 per cent decline to 241,228, signalling gradual progress — though the four counties remain the top contributors.
Funding and Reforms
Cheptumo said the ministry is working to address long-standing underfunding that has limited the State Department for Children’s Services.
She noted that her ministry has adopted a “multi-front strategy” to secure higher budget allocations and integrate child protection financing into national planning frameworks.
“Underfunding has historically limited our ability to discharge our mandate,” she said. “We are engaging the National Treasury and other relevant bodies to improve funding and ensure timely disbursement.”
Among the reforms, the ministry has adopted strict compliance with the Public Finance Management Act (2012) and the Public Procurement and Disposal Act (2005) to eliminate delays and strengthen accountability.
Work plans, procurement schedules, and cash flow plans for the 2025/2026 financial year are now subject to closer monitoring, with delays in approvals being tracked and reported to the Principal Secretary.
To enhance efficiency, accounting officers and departmental heads have been empowered to approve payments within set limits, while engineers and quantity surveyors from the State Department for Public Works have been enlisted to ensure accuracy in project costings.
Child Protection Efforts
The CS also highlighted the Victim Protection Fund, established under the Victims Protection Act (2014), as a key support mechanism for victims of crime and abuse — including children.
As of June 2025, Kenya had 714 children’s officers deployed across all 47 counties, 290 constituencies, and 353 sub-county offices — serving more than 18 million children nationwide.
Cheptumo, however, acknowledged staffing shortages, with some officers still covering multiple counties.
She said the ministry is pursuing additional recruitment and better resource allocation to strengthen child protection structures.
“This is not just a government responsibility. Families, communities, schools, and faith institutions must all take part in protecting our children,” Cheptumo emphasized.
