Eldoret: Concern is rising in Eldoret City following the killing of three women in less than a month, Teenage mothers are set to benefit from a government-funded cash support programme aimed at helping them return to school and rebuild their lives after pregnancy. The initiative is part of the government’s efforts to address teenage pregnancy and ensure young mothers stay in school.
According to Kenya News Agency, the programme will provide Sh1,000 to every adolescent who returns to school. Speaking at an engagement forum in Homa Bay, Carren Ageng’o, the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Children Services, stated that the cash support would be implemented under an adolescent cash-plus programme supported by the Child Investment Foundation. This initiative seeks to reach young people who have dropped out of school, including teenage mothers.
The registration of eligible adolescents for the programme is expected to begin this month, with Homa Bay being one of the targeted counties. ‘We are going to register them in the programme so that we ensure those who are at home are taken back to school,’ Ageng’o said.
This initiative is part of broader government efforts to address issues such as adolescent pregnancies, new HIV infections, and sexual and gender-based violence. The Sh1,000 school re-entry support aims to complement other interventions to ensure teenage mothers do not miss out on education and future opportunities.
The PS highlighted that teenage pregnancy remains a significant challenge in the country, with 2022 statistics showing that about 15 percent of girls nationally had been exposed to it, while Homa Bay records stand at 23 percent. Ageng’o emphasized the consequences of teenage pregnancy, including school dropout, stigma, HIV infections, and reduced opportunities for young mothers, urging communities to support affected adolescents rather than isolate them.
The government is also strengthening family support, psychosocial services, and social protection programmes to protect vulnerable children and adolescents. Existing cash-transfer programmes already support families with vulnerable children, while children’s officers in Homa Bay continue to provide psychosocial support to affected teenagers.
Ageng’o called for collaboration among communities, schools, government agencies, and stakeholders to ensure pregnant dropouts are given the chance to return to school. She also advocated for stronger families and actions against harmful social norms that make adolescents vulnerable to sexual violence, pregnancy, and HIV.
Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga announced the allocation of Sh1 billion through the Social Health Authority (SHA) to support teenage mothers and their children. He explained that the funding aims to assist those facing difficult circumstances, including stigmatization or lack of family support. Oluga stated that Sh779 million had been spent from the allocation in the previous financial year to support teenage mothers, with 2,891 beneficiaries in Homa Bay alone.
Dr. Oluga emphasized the need for community involvement in identifying teenage mothers in need of assistance, noting that stigma often drives them away from their communities until serious health issues arise. With about 65 percent of its population below the age of 25, Homa Bay County is considered a critical area for interventions targeting adolescents and young people.
