KHRC Demands Urgent Action as Hundreds of Girls Suffer Rights Violations
By Martin Masai
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has come under pressure to take decisive action on the alarming rate of teenage pregnancies in her county.
Long after the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) issued a formal demand for urgent intervention, the governor remains silent, raising concerns about the county government’s commitment to addressing what has been termed a “gross human rights violation.”
According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), Machakos ranks ninth nationally in teenage pregnancies, with 178 adolescent girls aged 15–19 becoming pregnant.
The KHRC, in a strongly worded letter dated March 7, 2024, categorized Governor Ndeti among ten county chiefs who have “abetted teenage pregnancies” by failing to address the crisis.
The organization acknowledges that Ndeti was not in office when the KDHS data was collected but insists that inaction is not an option.
A Crisis of Rights Violations
Teenage pregnancies in Machakos are not just a social issue; they represent a systemic violation of fundamental human rights.
The KHRC’s letter highlights key constitutional breaches, including:
The right to education – Teenage pregnancies force many girls out of school, derailing their futures.
The right to life and dignity – Early pregnancies pose severe health risks, including maternal mortality and complications.
Right to health – Girls struggle to access reproductive healthcare, contravening Article 43 of the Constitution.
The right to equality and freedom from discrimination – Pregnant girls face stigma and are often denied opportunities.
The right to freedom and security of the person – Many of these pregnancies result from sexual and gender-based violence.
KHRC argues that these violations contravene Article 53(1)(d) of the Constitution, which mandates the state to protect children from abuse, harmful practices, and inhumane treatment.
KHRC’s Demands: Will Governor Ndeti Act?
The commission outlined a clear set of actions it expects Governor Ndeti to take, including:
The first is implementing community-driven interventions to tackle the root causes of teenage pregnancies, such as deploying Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to provide sexual and reproductive health education.
Second is ensuring pregnant teenagers return to school without discrimination and receive psychosocial support.
Third is a call to Publicly condemn stigmatization of pregnant schoolgirls and advocate for their right to education.
Fourth is engaging with national bodies such as the Council of Governors and the Ministry of Health to address policy gaps in teenage pregnancy prevention.
The fifth call is for Wavinya to
encourage parental responsibility in accordance with the Children’s Act and the Constitution.
Even more worrying is the deafening silence from the county government – particularly one that is female led.
Despite the urgency of the matter, Governor Ndeti has yet to issue a response, even as KHRC demanded an action plan within 14 days.
This silence is striking, especially given that Machakos has previously been at the center of national conversations on teenage pregnancies.
Teenage pregnancies are not just numbers on a report—they are the lived realities of young girls whose futures are at risk.
While KHRC acknowledges the governor’s past request for assistance in addressing the crisis, it insists that leadership requires more than just asking for help. Concrete measures must be taken, and accountability is non-negotiable.
Will Governor Wavinya Ndeti rise to the challenge and protect the vulnerable girls of Machakos, or will her inaction cement her place among leaders failing to address this crisis?
The clock is ticking.
