NAIROBI, Kenya – The Ministry of Education has unveiled a special unit dedicated to addressing teenage pregnancies and protecting learners from sexual exploitation by teachers, in a move officials say will strengthen child protection in schools.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced the initiative on Tuesday when he appeared before the Senate Education Committee in Mombasa.
The unit will coordinate efforts across schools, government agencies, and communities to curb the rising cases of sexual abuse and ensure perpetrators are held accountable.
The move comes amid growing concern over the safety of learners and the effectiveness of existing reintegration and disciplinary policies.
“We are killing our girls. And it’s not just girls; we are also killing the boys. A lot of sodomy is happening,” warned nominated Senator Catherine Mumma, who chaired the session.
“All teachers involved in the defilement of students should never be transferred to other schools. That is happening, yet chances of them repeating the same offence are high.”
Mumma cited alarming statistics from Nyakach, Kisumu County, where 3,816 teenage pregnancies were recorded in 2023, some among girls as young as 10 years.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) told the committee it had received 111 reports of sexual misconduct by teachers since January 2024. These included defilement, harassment, sodomy, and inappropriate relationships with learners.
Cavin Anyuor, TSC Director for Legal, Labour and Industrial Relations, said 69 teachers had been deregistered, nine dismissed without licence revocation, 25 suspended, and four cleared of wrongdoing. Three cases were closed following the deaths of accused teachers.
“Once a teacher is found guilty, he or she is dismissed and deregistered,” Anyuor said, but admitted none of those implicated have faced prosecution in court.
He added that reporting misconduct is a legal requirement: “There is a free hotline for reporting cases of sexual abuse. We also have a public email where anonymous reports can be made. Reports must be submitted within 24 hours; failure of which is an offence.”
Senator Betty Montet told the session that disagreements with religious groups over sex education have hindered schools from addressing the problem comprehensively, leaving learners more vulnerable.
CS Ogamba acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue, calling teenage pregnancy and sex education a “hot potato.”
He said the ministry’s new unit would bridge policy gaps and strengthen protection frameworks in schools.
The initiative adds to ongoing reforms as education authorities confront school unrest, high rates of teenage pregnancy, and sexual abuse cases that have plagued the system for years.
