Pregnancies among underage girls in Narok county stands at 40 per cent, which is way above the national average of 18 per cent percent.
According to the chairman Narok county Parents Association Joseph Ole Pareyo, the affected minors were aged between 13 and 18 years.
Pareyo attributed the problem to high levels of poverty and traditional believes and practices.
“At 40 per cent, Narok currently leads in terms of child pregnancy. It is time this is addressed,” he said during a stakeholders workshop at a Gilgil hotel at the weekend.
According to area leaders, more minors are dropping out of school and getting married.
“We should stop the issue of early marriage in our communities and encourage the girl-child to attend school so that this vice can end,” said Pareyo.
Narok first lady Sarah Tunai who had organized the workshop admitted that the issue was very sensitive and worrying with more girls dropping from school.
Tunai said that they were identifying the most affected areas in the county so that they could move in and help resolve the problem.
Addressing the press, Tunai blamed boda boda operators and the social media for the increased cases adding that the county government was committed to addressing the problem.
“Some old practices like female genital mutilation have played a part in the increased cases of early pregnancy and marriage among the Maasais and this should be shunned,” she said.
The sentiments were echoed by an activist William Mbanyamlenge who said that the high number of girl’s pregnancy had also affected education and development levels.
He said that minors in primary schools were the most affected with the figures standing at 23 percent with those in secondary school stood at 17 percent.
“The only way we can deal with this menace is through education, mentorship programmes and making sure that we do away with some traditional believes,” he said.