Since the Covid-19 epidemic hit the world, many adolescent girls from impoverished households in Kilifi County have been on a hellish road. — By Ramadhan Kambi.
By the time the pandemic impacted the rest of the globe, Kilifi had begun to recover from almost 13,000 cases of teen pregnancy, which had stunned the country.
With the pandemic forcing closure of schools and many parents losing their jobs due to restrictions imposed by the government to curb the spread of the deadly virus, things began failing out for the young girls.
The situation made it difficult for them to get even sanitary pads which are very crucial during the menstruation period.
In some areas for example in Magarini, the pandemic has forced many young girls to engage in early sex with boda-boda operators or palm wine tappers to get money for buying the pads.
For the daughters of fate, some end up getting pregnant like Bendera Katana (Not her real names) became a young mother at the age of 14 years.
Now 15 years old, the young lad borrowed money from a young man in her village to buy sanitary pads only for him to demand sex after she completed her periods.
Narrating her story during a program to support the teenage girls with sanitary pads, soaps, and other household items for girls, she talked of how she ended on bed with the man, leading to her getting pregnant.
The forum was organized by Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW Kenya) a national feminist women’s right Non-Governmental Organization.
“I did not reject his sexual advances because he supported me, but I got pregnant,” she said while holding her baby who is now over one year old.
The teenage mother who was mostly shy during the interview noted that it was not easy to resume studies but thanked her teachers for supporting her.
“Girls used to laugh at me but teachers have been very supportive since I resumed studies,” she said.
Another victim, a standard seven pupil at a primary school in the region has also been facing challenges since the pandemic struck.
The last born from a family of 11 including nine boys and two girls revealed that initially she used to perform well in class by scoring over 300 marks but due to the challenges even getting 200 marks is nowadays a problem.
The 17 years old girl aspiring to be a doctor said since the pandemic begun her parents have not been supportive forcing her at times to borrow money from teen boys.
“When you ask for assistance from boys, they do so with expectations of being paid back with sex in return which puts us at risk of getting pregnant at a very early age,’ she said.
During menstruation period she said it’s hard to concentrate in class when one has no sanitary pads as it spoils her clothes and make her uncomfortable.
Her mother is now old and relies on the selling firewood to buy pads and pay school fees but with the support, she got from CREAW she will be able to concentrate in school.
“I am forced to engage in sex because I have no money and my dream is to complete school, pass, and get a better job,” she said.
Wanjiru Wainaina a nyumba kumi official from Ngomeni thanked CREAW for the initiative for supporting the girl child as many girls are going through serious challenges in the area.
“Many children have suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic because their parents lost jobs and now are living from hand to mouth,” she said.
Courageous enough, Linet John a Form two student at Marereni Secondary said she rejected a sexual advancement from a boy who demanded it in return after giving her money.
“I refused the sexual offer because it is strange that a person wants to help but must be given sex in return it can’t happen that way,” she said.
She advised fellow girls to stop seeking favors from boys or men as it would lead to early sex and teenage pregnancy.
Community champion Women on the Move Against gender-based violence chairperson Ms Helda Lameck said there are many cases of defilement, incest and domestic violence in Magarini.
“Many girls were offering their bodies for sex to either get food or a sanitary towel, that’s why we have had many cases of teenage pregnancies,” she said.
She said girls used to get pads in school but when the Covid-19 pandemic struck they could not get and which lead to sexual behaviors.
She thanked CREAW for the initiative as the pads will help them for three months while the soap will clean their clothes.
