Parliament Approves Bill to Keep Teenage Mothers in School

Members of the National Assembly have passed the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2023, legislation aimed at enhancing public awareness of sexual crimes and safeguarding the right to education for victims, including teenage mothers.

Sponsored by Nominated MP Doris Donya Aburi, the Bill introduces key amendments to the Sexual Offences Act, 2006. Central to the proposed law is Section 46A, which mandates the Cabinet Secretary for legal affairs to lead nationwide public education and information campaigns on sexual offences.

Furthermore, the Bill requires the legal affairs Ministry to collaborate with the Ministry of Education to establish dedicated programmes that protect and promote continued access to education for survivors of sexual violence and adolescent mothers.

The enactment comes amidst alarming data on adolescent pregnancy in Kenya. According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022, 15 per cent of girls aged 15–19 have experienced pregnancy. Regional disparities remain high, with Samburu recording 50 per cent, West Pokot at 36 per cent, and Marsabit at 29 per cent.

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Social-economic factors also play a critical role; 21 per cent of girls in the lowest wealth bracket have been pregnant compared to 8 per cent in the highest. Moreover, about 40 per cent of teenage girls with no formal education have been pregnant.

Data from the Kenya Economic Survey 2026 highlights an upward trend, showing 235,938 teenage pregnancies in 2025, up from 224,333 in 2024. Additionally, the Kenya Vital Statistics Report 2024 revealed that over 125,000 live births were registered to mothers aged 19 and below in 2024 alone.

Besides establishing educational safeguards, the Bill aligns the 2006 Act with the Constitution by substituting the term “Minister” with “Cabinet Secretary” across provisions concerning medical evidence, treatment orders, and administrative duties. The law aims to reduce stigma, eliminate barriers to schooling, and ensure victims receive long-term support.

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