Arise Media 
The Ministry of Health has intensified efforts to protect adolescents from early pregnancies and sexual abuse by reinforcing the implementation of the National Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy.
Speaking during a media sensitization workshop in Nairobi under the Step Up to Access campaign, Dr. Jacqueline Kisia, Director of Sexual Reproductive Health, revealed that 15 percent of Kenyan children aged 10 to 18 have already given birth, according to the Kenya Demographic Health Survey.
“Children should not be having children,” Dr. Kisia said, calling for immediate action to reduce the numbers through effective policy implementation and awareness.
Dr. Christine Wambugu, Director of Adolescent Health, said the Ministry had developed a parenting manual to promote open parent-child communication and delay early sexual activity.
A new handbook titled Understanding Adolescents has also been launched to equip teens with age-appropriate information about their development.
The Step Up to Access campaign is led by Youth Advocates across five African countries—Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Zambia—to address teen pregnancies, gender-based violence, and HIV.
Executive Director Tatenda Songore called for increased reproductive health education in schools, noting that access to accurate information is critical to safeguarding adolescents.
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