Education Ministry sets up special unit to tackle teenage pregnancy in schools
Nominated Senator Catherine Mumma, who chaired the session, warned that both girls and boys are increasingly vulnerable to abuse in schools.
The Ministry of Education has launched a special unit aimed at tackling teenage pregnancies and protecting learners from sexual exploitation by teachers.
The move comes amid rising concern over the safety of students and the effectiveness of existing policies on reintegration and discipline.
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Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced the initiative after appearing before the Senate Education Committee in Mombasa on Tuesday.
Nominated Senator Catherine Mumma, who chaired the session, warned that both girls and boys are increasingly vulnerable to abuse in schools.
“We are killing our girls. And it's not just girls; we are also killing the boys. A lot of sodomy is happening. 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 said
Senator Mumma also highlighted gaps in the Teachers Service Commission’s (TSC) approach, urging the commission to stop transferring teachers found guilty of sexual offences to other schools.
She cited alarming local data from Nyakach, where 3,816 teenage pregnancies were recorded in 2023, including learners aged 10 to 14.
TSC Director for Legal, Labour and Industrial Relations Cavin Anyuor told the committee that the commission has received 111 reports of sexual misconduct by teachers since January 2024.
These include sexual relations with learners, flirtation, harassment, and sodomy. He stressed that all cases are handled under the Code of Regulations for Teachers.
“When a teacher is found guilty, he or she is dismissed and deregistered,” Anyuor said.
He added that 69 teachers have been deregistered, nine dismissed without licence revocation, 25 suspended, and four cleared of wrongdoing. Three cases were closed because the accused teachers had passed away.
However, he noted that none of the dismissed teachers have faced prosecution in court.
Anyuor also outlined the reporting channels for misconduct, which include TSC offices, boards of management, heads of institutions, or law enforcement agencies. He emphasised that reports must be made within 24 hours, warning that failure to report is an offence.
“There is a free hotline for reporting cases of sexual abuse. We also have a public email where anonymous reports can be made,” Anyuor said.
Senator Betty Montet noted that disagreements with religious institutions over the content of sex education have stalled progress, leaving schools without clear guidance to address the problem.
CS Ogamba acknowledged the sensitivity of teenage pregnancy and sex education in schools, calling it a “hot potato.”
Meanwhile, the new unit will coordinate efforts across schools, authorities, and communities to curb teenage pregnancies and ensure that offenders are held accountable. The ministry said the initiative is part of broader measures to strengthen child protection in education institutions nationwide.
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