The Kiambu Women Rep Anne Nyokabi yesterday urged women in the area to raise awareness of the girl child following the increased pregnancy cases among school girls and number of dropouts. Addressing area residents today in Ndeiya at the chief’s camp, the women rep said that cases of girl dropouts in the area had raised hence raising alarm. She explained that underage girls dropping out of school as a result of pregnancy was a crisis and men involved in such crimes should be brought to book.
She also called on heads of schools in the area to begin guidance and counselling programmes in schools so that children can be advised and counselled on the importance of education. “As residents you should stand strong and not allow such cases to happen to our children, most of you are struggling to educate these girls so that they may be a different face in the community, so do not allow your sweat to go wasted by keeping quiet on such an issue,” said the women rep. She further explained that men who engage in this crime should not be left in the community but reported to the authorities. Speaking after the meeting the chairlady of the women development (Maendeleo Ya Wanawake) in the area Mercy Wairimu said that cases of girl dropouts in the area had increased in the past four months due to pregnancies.
She explained that as a women movement in the area they are set to start an awareness programme set to educate girls in the area on importance of education. She explained that old men are the ones mostly involved in this acts hence should be brought to book and charged in accordance to the law.