WEST POKOT – Stakeholders in West Pokot County have intensified coordinated efforts to tackle teenage pregnancies, gender-based violence (GBV), and new HIV infections among adolescents, describing these interconnected challenges as a major threat to the region’s social and economic future. Representatives from national and county governments, healthcare facilities, probation services, Community Health Promoters, Huduma Centre officials, community leaders, and young people recently convened at Mtelo Hall in Kapenguria for a multi-sectoral community dialogue aimed at protecting youth from harmful practices.
This strategic engagement forms part of the nationwide Voice of Children project, an initiative championed by First Lady Rachel Ruto through the Office of the First Ladies of Africa. West Pokot was selected alongside Samburu, Homa Bay, and Uasin Gishu to host these localized engagements due to the urgent need for targeted intervention in counties facing a high burden of adolescent challenges.
Data from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022 ranks West Pokot second highest nationally in teenage pregnancy rates at 36 percent, trailing only Samburu at 50 percent. West Pokot County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health and Sanitation, Claire Parklea, identified poverty, limited educational opportunities, and inadequate access to sexual and reproductive health information and modern contraceptives as the primary factors driving these numbers.
Parklea emphasized the direct correlation between education and adolescent well-being, noting that between 38 and 40 percent of teenagers in the county without formal education have experienced pregnancy. Keeping girls in school significantly reduces their risk of early pregnancy, prompting Parklea to urge parents and community elders to take an active role in guiding the next generation rather than remaining silent on critical youth issues.
To directly address these reproductive health hurdles, the county government is expanding adolescent-friendly healthcare infrastructure. In preparation for the opening of a new university in the area, the Department of Health has allocated dedicated space for a student clinic staffed with a clinical officer, nurse, and public health officer, alongside secured medical supplies. Furthermore, Keringet Health Centre has been upgraded to a Level Three facility to strengthen overall medical access for local residents.
Addressing the county’s viral transmission statistics, County AIDS and STI Coordinator Nelly Achokor reported that adolescents and young people account for approximately 22 percent of new HIV infections in West Pokot. While this figure is notably lower than the national proportion of 41 percent, and the county’s overall HIV prevalence remains relatively low at 0.54 percent, continuous community outreach is necessary to educate youth on the long-term impacts of risky behaviors. Free prevention interventions, including Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), are currently stocked across health facilities countywide.
A major obstacle highlighted during the summit is the critical delay by GBV survivors in seeking prompt medical care. Achokor voiced strong concern that many survivors arrive at health facilities more than 72 hours after an incident, missing the crucial window required for emergency HIV post-exposure prophylaxis, unwanted pregnancy prevention, and timely psychosocial support.
Adding to the social challenges, County Director for Gender Emmanuel Oigo confirmed that West Pokot remains classified among Kenya’s 22 Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) hotspot counties. Although local FGM prevalence has dropped significantly from 72 percent to approximately 44 percent, practices like early marriage and teenage pregnancy persist. Oigo also pointed out that new industrial projects, such as the Sebit Klinker Factory, have increased truck transit and workforce movement, creating new social dynamics that require heightened vigilance regarding HIV transmission and gender violence across all genders.
Reinforcing the need for socio-cultural change, Moi University lecturer Dr. Samson Ndege, supporting the HIV response through AMPATH, noted that traditional norms limiting female empowerment prevent young women from making independent decisions about their health and future. The dialogue concluded with a unified call from all stakeholders for sustained collaboration among government agencies, parents, schools, and development partners to lower West Pokot’s teenage pregnancy rates below the national baseline of 15 percent and guarantee every child the opportunity to complete their education.
