President Uhuru Kenyatta has called on Kenyans to publicly shame rapists and defilers.
Speaking in Nakuru, where he led the country in marking World Aids Day, Kenyatta said jail alone won’t help curb the sexual assult.
He has also discouraged cross-generational relationships involving elderly men and underage girls.
The President said most STDs, including HIV, contracted by the young girls are, in most cases, passed on by the “sugar daddies”.
“Before you date an underage girl, ask yourself whether your actions are dignified. Men, date women of your age!” he said.
The president said young girls need to be protected, because, as children, they are not in a position to make informed decisions on relationships.
“Children are not to blame for unplanned pregnancies or sexually transmitted infections. We, the older men, are responsible,” said Kenyatta.
“Let us allow children to lead normal lives. Children are our future, and when the future is protected, we protect ourselves too.”
Further, Kenyatta said AIDS-related deaths in the country had reduced by 67 per cent, from 58,456 in 2013 to 19,486 in 2021.
He revealed that the annual HIV infections had reduced from 101,488 in 2013 to 32,027 in 2021, a 68.4 per cent decrease.
On ARVs, Kenyatta said the ARV’S uptake rose by 83 per cent from some 656,000 Kenyans to today 1,199,000 who are on ARV’S.
“Kenya is among the African countries leading in achieving universal access to ARV’S and we also lead the pack in providing more optimize treatment regime to prevent HIV transmission and to prolong the lives of people living with HIV,” he said.
According to Kenyatta, his administration introduced access to free maternity through the ‘Linda Mama’ program and thus, skilled birth deliveries have increased from 57 per cent to 78 per cent.
“Due to this program mother to child transmission rate, have reduced from 14 per centto 9.7 per cent,” he said.
