Interior cabinet secretary Dr Fred Matiang’I has once again reiterated that unnecessary Night vigils remain banned countrywide.

The cabinet secretary said night Vigil’s like burials and weddings should remain banned because they have been blamed for contributing to teenage pregnancies saying administrative actions will be taken to violators.

The night vigil ban was imposed by health cabinet secretary Mutahi Kagwe as a measure to control the spread of Covid-19 and according to Cs Matiangi the laws remain active.

“I don’t know whether the ministry of health has lifted restrictions on night vigils, this nonsensical thing is pure nonsense, we should discourage this, because you and I know that this activity has affected our young girls” said Matiangi.

Matiangi asked county commissioners and chiefs to share information with relevant government agencies so that the society can be streamlined in line with countries' laws.

 “We will not allow our girl child to be violated in exchange of cows and camels at a tender age, we want to warn those chiefs that perpetrate that will be taken to action,” said Matiangi.

Matiangi also said the culture of initiating young girls for exchange of wealth is against the law that protects underage age teenage girls in the country.

According to the CS, chiefs are in a better position to know people responsible for teenage pregnancies as they come from their villages. He said the vice was facilitated by culture of disco matanga’s that encourages indulgence in sex to replace the deceased during the funeral.

“As a government, we cannot sit and watch our young girls being defiled at the expense of culture. I want all those involved to be arrested and taken to court

One in every five teenage girls between the ages 15-19 has had a live birth or is pregnant with their first child.

According to the 2019 global childhood report by Save the children Resource center, Kenya has the third highest teen pregnancy rates worldwide.

According to the report 13.6 percent of adolescent girls find themselves in forced early marriages. Last year 2021,320,152 girls of ages 10-19 years presented with pregnancy at first antenatal visits at health facilities countrywide.

 “We want to ensure that we work with our partners and ensure we don't allow us to slide back, because those actions by the ministry of health have not been lifted,” said Matiangi.

In 2021 for example, statistics show that 96 percent (12,512) of Gender Based Violence GBV cases reported among young females aged 12-17.

“Furthermore one in every 3 girls in Kenya and one in every 7 boys are sexually assaulted in childhood, “said Matiang’i.

Matiangi made the remarks in Mombasa when he addressed a national dialogue with regional and  county commissioners on their role in ending new infections, teenage pregnancies and gender based violence in Kenya.

The meeting held at the English point Marina hotel in Mombasa brought together officials from the National Aids control council, national council for population and development among other stakeholders.

Matiangi warned chiefs who neglect to take action against perpetrators of teenage pregnancies that they risk appropriate disciplinary action.

This happens as the country continues to grapple with nes HIV infections, with research showing that economic, cultural, legal and social inequalities are barriers to the fight against HIV/Aids.

“Alcohol and drug use predispose young people to HIV infection, teenage pregnancy and GBV,'' said Matiang’i.

On her part, health ministry Principal secretary Susan Mochache said the country is still facing a lot of challenges in regards to the war on GBV and HIV aids.

“Between 2013 and 2021, HIV programmes has yielded a 67 percent decline in annual AIDS-related deaths. This encouraging performance reflects an increase of 83% in the number of people living with HIV that are on life-saving antiretroviral treatment, from 600,000 people in 2013 to 1.2 million people in 2021,” said Mochache.

According to Mochache, the government will continue to engage in the fight against teenage pregnancy in the country.

“While the Ministry of Health has embarked on a journey to ensure that every Kenyan has access to quality health services, securing the health of young girls must remain a key priority. We will not win if one in every five girls continue to bear a child before their 19th birthday,” said Mochache.

On her part, national aids control council (NACC) C.E.O Dr Ruth Laibon - Masha revealed that the country spends around 25 billion shillings every year to manage and prevent HIV/AIDS.

" Over the years we were being supported by our partners. Right now we are struggling to see where do even get physical space to begin to ensure that we put everyone on treatment" said Dr Masha.