Lamu County Reports 1,073 Teenage Pregnancies as KHRC and MUHURI Call for Action.
A report submitted to the Presidential Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Femicide by the Lamu County Gender Department has revealed that 1,073 teenage pregnancies were recorded in the county between 2024 and May 2025. Girls aged 15-19 years were the most affected.
According to the report by Lamu County Gender Department, 2024 was the year with the most cases, with 789 reported. The report attributed most of the cases to rape, defilement and early marriage.
Following the release of the report, Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) issued a joint statement on Thursday, June 5, 2025, demanding immediate government action to address the rising cases of adolescent pregnancies. The two organisations pointed out that national and county governments have failed to protect adolescent girls from sexual violence and to provide them with access to reproductive health services and education.
“Despite all these efforts, neither MPs, senators nor governors have responded or taken action to protect our young girls. This inaction leaves them vulnerable to sexual violence, without access to sexual and reproductive health services and unable to complete their education,” the statement read.
KHRC and MUHURI referenced the National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC) 2023 report which stated that many adolescent girls were being impregnated daily. The statement also cited the Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) 2022 report which listed the top 10 counties with the highest rates of teenage pregnancies among girls 15-19 years.
In their statement, KHRC demanded accountability from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and the governors of affected counties. KHRC also said failure by these officials to act makes them unfit for public office.
“The situation in Lamu is a wake up call. Kenyans especially those in affected counties must demand accountability from leaders who have failed to do their job,” the statement continued.
As part of their intervention framework, KHRC called for:
Senate: Invite governors from high teenage pregnancy counties to come and explain what they are doing in terms of policy and programming to address the crisis.
National Assembly: Invite the Cabinet Secretary for Health to explain government policy on sexual and reproductive health and how it is implementing the Eastern and Southern Africa Commitment on comprehensive sexuality education.
Education Sector: Invite the Cabinet Secretary for Education to explain how they will facilitate the unconditional re-entry of pregnant students into school and provide psychosocial support services.
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KHRC has also demanded that county governors:
- Address the root causes of teenage pregnancies through community based approaches, mobilise Community Health Promoters.
- Work with Ministry of Education to ensure pregnant students are unconditionally re-admitted to school and get academic and psychosocial support.
- Publicly denounce all forms of stigma and discrimination against pregnant students and support their education.
- Work with Ministry of Health to identify and address policy and operational gaps in prevention and management of adolescent pregnancies.
- Tell parents and guardians to fulfill their duties under the Children Act and the Constitution of Kenya to protect and promote the welfare of children.
KHRC concluded by warning that if leaders fail to implement these before the next general elections, they will be removed from office for dereliction of their constitutional and statutory duties.
Lamu County Reports 1,073 Teenage Pregnancies as KHRC and MUHURI Call for Action
