Nairobi: The Deputy Governor of Bungoma County, Jennifer Mbatiany, has voiced significant concerns about the escalating issues of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), teenage pregnancies, and HIV infections in the region. Her remarks underscore the urgent need for action to address these interconnected challenges.
According to Kenya News Agency, Mbatiany highlighted alarming statistics from the Ministry of Health during a speech at Kamtiong village, Mt. Elgon ward, Bungoma County. She noted that between January and July 2023, approximately 196 girls aged 10-14 and another 7,270 aged 15-19 became pregnant in Bungoma. The county recorded 12,103 cases of teenage pregnancies in 2022, following a high of 14,054 cases in 2021, which placed it among the highest in the nation.
GBV remains a pressing issue, with Bungoma County documenting 9,089 cases involving girls aged 10-17 from 2016 to July 2023, compared to 18,510 cases reported nationally. The 2022 Kenya Demographic Health Survey revealed that 62 percent of Bungoma women have experienced physical or sexual violence. Additionally, Bungoma accounts for 19 percent of Kenya's teenage pregnancies.
HIV prevalence also presents a significant challenge, with a 2024 overall rate of 1.78 percent in Bungoma County-2.53 percent among women and 1.01 percent among men. The 2021/2022 National Syndemic Diseases Control Council HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan reported a prevalence rate of 2.8 percent, estimating 30,091 people living with HIV in the county.
Mbatiany called for a collective response from the community, stakeholders, and donors to achieve zero tolerance towards these threats, emphasizing the importance of the church's role in maintaining peace amid rising political tensions before the by-elections scheduled for late November 2025. She also encouraged women to take on leadership roles to support and protect the youth, particularly young girls.