Kaya elders in Kilifi County have launched the Magarini Moro Declaration, a community-led campaign aimed at reducing teenage pregnancies through traditional leadership and cultural values, saying the vice continues to disrupt girls' education and tarnish the county's image despite years of government and non-governmental interventions.
The declaration, unveiled by the Malindi District Cultural Association (MADCA) at the MADCA Centre in Sabaki, Magarini Sub-county, commits the elders to taking awareness campaigns to villages, schools, churches, mosques and other community forums across Kilifi County to reach more families and protect children from early pregnancies.
MADCA Secretary-General Joseph Karisa Mwarandu said teenage pregnancy remains a major concern, with many girls still dropping out of school after becoming pregnant.
"Our goal is to spread awareness at the grassroots. We want parents and students to prioritise education, and children to avoid sex at an early age," he said.
Mwarandu urged the government to recognise the role of traditional elders in tackling the problem through cultural mentorship and counselling, arguing that modern approaches alone have not been enough to curb the vice in rural communities.
The elders said protecting children is a shared responsibility that requires the involvement of parents, schools, religious institutions and the wider community. They also condemned cases in which relatives are implicated in teenage pregnancies, calling for those responsible to face both public condemnation and legal action.
MADCA founding chairman Stanley Kiraga said lasting solutions must begin at the grassroots rather than relying solely on national institutions.
"The answer is not only in Nairobi or in offices. It starts at home, in the village, with elders, parents, and religious leaders working together," he said.
Magarini Sub-county Gender and Youth Officer Shadrack Fukwe said the prevalence of teenage pregnancies has fallen from 21 per cent to 16 per cent, but stressed that sustained public education is still needed.
"We have made progress, but we must do more so that no girl is left behind," he said.
Under the Magarini Moro Declaration, the elders will organise barazas, school outreach programmes and cultural forums across Kilifi County to mentor adolescents and engage parents in safeguarding children. The campaign will also feature veteran Giriama poet Edward Kazungi, popularly known as Kazungu wa Hawerisa, and traditional musician Hinzano Kiponda, who will use poetry and music to spread the campaign's message throughout the county.
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