The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Police and local administrators in Webuye, Bungoma County, have opened investigations after 36 girls from a local school became pregnant, with authorities working to establish those responsible.
The school principal said 13 of the affected students have already delivered, another 13 are currently pregnant, while 10 left school after becoming pregnant.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel
Webuye East Assistant County Commissioner Emmanuel Kenga confirmed that police were investigating the cases and would pursue each one to identify and take action against those responsible.
“We will follow up those cases one after the other, including those reported in the past,” Kenga said.
The school administration has appealed for assistance to build a dormitory, arguing that students travelling between school and their homes every day are exposed to risks that may contribute to teenage pregnancies.
The principal said reducing the daily movement could help protect the girls from potential harm.
The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of girls and the prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation, particularly in areas where teenage pregnancy remains a challenge.
Data contained in the 2026 Economic Survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that 235,938 adolescents aged between 10 and 19 attended their first antenatal care visit in 2025 after becoming pregnant.
Although this represented a decline from 241,228 cases recorded in 2024, pregnancies among girls aged 10 to 14 rose from 10,126 to 11,605 during the same period.
Adolescents aged 15 to 19 accounted for 224,333 of the reported cases in 2025.
The survey notes that the figures only cover adolescents who attended their first antenatal care visit and may therefore not represent the total number of teenage pregnancies.
At county level, Nairobi recorded the highest number of adolescent pregnancies in 2025, followed by Kakamega, Narok and Bungoma.
Bungoma reported 10,443 cases, placing it among counties with some of the highest numbers nationally.
The situation comes amid wider efforts to support teenage mothers. In February, the Social Health Authority reported that its Teen Mothers Programme had registered 48,273 teenage mothers across 44 counties between October 2024 and December 2025.
A Gender and Child Protection Desk officer expressed concern that only one of the 36 cases had been reported to police by a parent.
She urged parents of the affected girls to come forward and report the cases, assuring them that they would receive assistance and would not be required to pay for medical support.
Authorities also linked the situation to concerns surrounding activities during the ongoing circumcision season in parts of western Kenya.
Kenga warned residents against brewing and consuming traditional alcoholic drinks during circumcision ceremonies, saying alcohol could increase risks to children and young people.
He said authorities would work to stop the brewing of traditional liquor in homes during the season, which is expected to continue until December.
Kenga also called for cultural practices to be conducted in accordance with the law and urged communities to ensure children remain safe throughout the ceremonies.
