Human rights groups condemn government inaction as teenage pregnancies surge in Lamu

Human rights organisations, Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI), have sounded the alarm over government inaction amid a sharp rise in teenage pregnancies, with 1,073 cases reported in Lamu County between 2024 and mid-2025.

The alarming figures were presented in a report submitted by Lamu County’s Gender Sector Working Group to the Presidential Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Femicide.

Of the total cases, 789 were reported in 2024, and another 284 were recorded between January and May 2025.

MUHURI noted that many of these pregnancies stemmed from rape, defilement, and early marriages, indicating widespread violations of girls’ rights.

A separate report by the National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC) further revealed the gravity of the national crisis, estimating that an average of 696 adolescent girls were impregnated every day in 2023.

In 2024, KHRC used data from the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey to identify the ten counties with the highest teenage pregnancy rates among girls aged 15–19.

The organisation not only highlighted the most affected counties but also those with the highest per capita contributions to the crisis.

Red cards

In a symbolic protest, KHRC issued “red cards” to the Health Cabinet Secretary and governors of the most affected counties, declaring them unfit for public office due to their failure to protect vulnerable girls and to uphold girls’ constitutional right to education.

Following the red card campaign, KHRC and MUHURI sent formal letters to the Senate, National Assembly, and Council of Governors, urging immediate action.

The letters called on Parliament to summon relevant Cabinet Secretaries to explain current policies on adolescent reproductive health and school re-entry for pregnant students.

They also urged the Council of Governors to lead efforts to end stigma, ensure school reintegration, and engage community health promoters in prevention efforts.

“Despite these efforts, neither MPs, senators, nor governors have responded or taken the necessary actions to safeguard our young girls. This inaction leaves them vulnerable to sexual violence, without access to critical sexual and reproductive health services, and unable to complete their education,” said the rights groups in a statement.

“The situation in Lamu reflects a broader national failure to safeguard our girls,” the rights bodies added, adding that elected leaders must be held accountable as the 2027 elections approach.

Address the crisis

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• teen pregnancies
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• MUHURI
• Lamu Gender Sector Working Group
• Presidential Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide
• Human rights groups condemn government inaction as teenage pregnancies surge in Lamu
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They further demanded that the Senate and National Assembly summon governors and the relevant Cabinet Secretaries to publicly explain what is being done to address the crisis, stressing that failure to act is a betrayal of the country’s youth.

“Our daughters’ lives are hanging in the balance, and many will never get a second chance. We cannot give failed leaders another opportunity to serve in public office and continue to destroy the lives of our girls,” stated the Rights Organisations.

“We urge the Senate, National Assembly, and Council of Governors to fully uphold their responsibilities. They must summon the relevant governors and the Health Cabinet Secretary to publicly explain the actions being taken to safeguard our girls and address this crisis. The Education Cabinet Secretary must also be called upon to clarify what steps the ministry is taking to enforce the school re-entry policy for pregnant learners.”