Busia: On day two of the Senate Mashinani sessions, members of the Kenya Women Senators Association (KEWOSA) took their outreach deep into villages to address the rising triple threat facing women in Busia County. Speaking during an interactive session with education stakeholders in the County on the sidelines of the Senate Mashinani sittings, the female senators raised alarm over the rising cases of HIV infections, teenage pregnancies, rise of new sexually transmitted infections (STI) and rampant gender-based violence (SGBV) in Busia County, describing the situation as a national disaster which required urgent intervention.
According to Kenya News Agency, the senators visited St. James Kwang’amor Secondary School, Okisimo Junior Secondary School, and St. James Nasewa School before holding a dialogue with county and national officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders. The senators, led by KEWOSA Chairperson Senator Veronica Maina, highlighted recent data from Busia on GBV, new HIV infections, and teenage pregnancies, which paints a worrying picture far above the national figure. The National Aids Control Council data shows that Busia County recorded 135 new HIV infections among adolescents aged 10-19 in 2024, up from 120 in 2019, with about 2,400 adolescents currently living with HIV.
Senator Maina noted that Busia is on a wrong footing regarding GBV issues, with 65,540 adolescent pregnancies recorded between 2016 and 2024, accounting for 28 percent of all first antenatal clinic visits. She emphasized the need for urgent dialogue to address this worrying trend. Reported SGBV cases among adolescents also rose sharply, from 66 in 2016 to 480 in 2024, with 171 girls aged 10-17 becoming pregnant due to defilement during that period.
With 69.3 percent of Busia residents living below the national poverty line, more adolescents in the county remain vulnerable, exposing them to exploitation and increasing the likelihood of school dropouts. Busia Women Representative Catherine Omanyo criticized the justice system for delays in addressing GBV cases, which allows room for culprits to resort to kangaroo courts. Teso South MP Mary Emase echoed this sentiment, urging residents to report cases of GBV and sexual exploitation while calling for the establishment of gender desks at all police stations in Busia.
As a mitigation measure, KEWOSA educated school girls and boys on their rights as enshrined in the Constitution and under the Sexual Offences Act (2006), before distributing 3,000 menstrual hygiene pads to girls and 1,000 pairs of boxer shorts to boys to help improve school attendance and confidence. Senator Maina affirmed that KEWOSA would use their Senate mandate for oversight, legislation, and representation to ensure that frameworks such as the Children’s Act (2022) and Basic Education Act (2013) are fully implemented.
