Kilifi: Kaya elders in Kilifi County have launched an aggressive campaign to curb teenage pregnancies, a vice they say continues to tarnish the county’s reputation. The elders, under the Malindi District Cultural Association (MADCA), issued the Magarini Moro Declaration – a pledge to employ traditional leadership and cultural practices in the fight against the vice.
According to Kenya News Agency, the elders emphasized that schools, parents, and communities must refocus on education and protect girls from early sexual activity. MADCA Secretary General Joseph Karisa Mwarandu noted that despite government and NGO interventions, teenage pregnancies remain widespread, forcing many schoolgirls to drop out.
Speaking at the MADCA Centre in Sabaki, Magarini Sub-county, where the elders issued the declaration, Mr. Mwarandu said the declaration will see elders take their message directly to villages, churches, mosques, schools, and community forums. ‘Our goal is to spread awareness at the grassroots. We want parents and students to prioritize education, and children to avoid sex at an early age,’ he said.
The elders condemned cases where family members are implicated in teenage pregnancies, terming such acts a violation of Mijikenda culture and called for community shaming and legal action against perpetrators. Mwarandu further urged the government to allow elders to use traditional counselling and cultural mentorship, arguing that modern interventions alone have not reversed the trend in rural areas.
MADCA founding chairman Stanley Kiraga echoed the call for collaboration, stressing that solutions must begin at the community level. ‘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 confirmed that teenage pregnancy rates have declined but remain high. He said cases dropped from 21 percent to 16 percent, but more aggressive awareness is needed. ‘We have made progress, but we must do more so that no girl is left behind,’ he said.
The Magarini Moro Declaration will now be rolled out across Kilifi County, with elders expected to hold regular barazas, school forums, and cultural gatherings to mentor adolescents and parents. They also mandated seasoned Giriama poet Edward Kazungi alias Kazungu wa Hawerisa and traditional musician Hinzano Kiponda to use their talents to spread the message during the campaign.
