In the crowded settlements of Kibera and Mathare, where poverty grips tightly and opportunities are scarce, a quiet shift is taking place.
Teen fathers, long overlooked in conversations about adolescent parenting, are being brought into the heart of support programmes by Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO).
The organisation, founded and led by Kennedy Odede, a Nelson Mandela Award laureate, has rolled out an integrated mentorship model that engages both young mothers and fathers.
This quarter alone, more than 100 young parents, primarily teenage dads, have been guided through comprehensive sexual health education while also receiving mentorship designed to shift deep-rooted mindsets.
“What makes this model different,” SHOFCO said in a statement, “is that we engage fathers as active participants. We combine health, education and gender expertise, and place equal emphasis on psychological empowerment alongside practical knowledge.”
Kenya faces a stubborn crisis of teenage pregnancy. According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, nearly one in five girls aged 15–19 is a mother or pregnant with her first child. The Ministry of Health estimates that about 260,000 adolescent pregnancies are recorded annually. These figures translate into disrupted education, early marriages, and a generational cycle of poverty.
The government has responded with policies such as the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy, alongside re-entry guidelines that allow girls to resume their education after giving birth. County administrations are also partnering with NGOs to expand access to family planning services. But critics note that boys and young men are rarely included in the conversation, leaving a major gap in prevention and empowerment efforts.
By engaging young fathers, SHOFCO believes it is addressing poverty at its roots. “True empowerment requires belief in possibility,” the organisation says. “By helping these young people envision different futures, we are not just changing lives—we are reshaping communities.”
