Busia County is grappling with a growing crisis affecting its young population, and the Kenya Women Senators Association (KEWOSA) has stepped in to lead a decisive response.
On Monday, KEWOSA, under the leadership of Senator Veronica Maina, launched an extensive campaign aimed at curbing HIV infections, adolescent pregnancies, and sexual and gender-based violence, bringing attention to the urgent need for coordinated action to protect children and young people.
The campaign, conducted under the Senate Mashinani programme, saw senators split into two teams to ensure broader coverage.
They began with direct engagement at St. James Kwang’amor Secondary School and St. James Nasewa School, speaking to students about health, safety, and legal rights before convening a critical multi-sectoral dialogue with county officials, national representatives, religious leaders, and community influencers.
Senator Veronica Maina painted a sobering picture with data that showed the magnitude of the crisis.
In 2024, Busia recorded 135 new HIV infections among adolescents aged 10 to 19, up from 120 in 2019, with about 2,400 adolescents now living with HIV in the county. Teenage pregnancies remain alarmingly high, with 65,540 recorded between 2016 and 2024, accounting for 28 percent of all first antenatal care visits. Cases of sexual and gender-based violence among adolescents have surged from 66 in 2016 to 480 in 2024, with 171 pregnancies resulting from defilement.
“These figures are deeply concerning,” Senator Veronica said, emphasizing that widespread poverty—affecting 69.3 percent of residents—exacerbates the vulnerability of young people to exploitation and school dropouts.
In a hands-on approach, KEWOSA distributed menstrual hygiene kits to girls and boxer shorts to boys, a move designed to support health, dignity, and school attendance.
Senator Maina reminded learners of their legal protections under the Sexual Offences Act (2006), which criminalizes sexual activity with minors and prescribes severe penalties, including life imprisonment.
The afternoon session brought together a broad spectrum of stakeholders at PCEA Church in Busia Town, including county officials, police, the Judiciary, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, teenage mothers, religious leaders, and boda boda associations.
Discussions concluded with a unified call for a collaborative, multi-sectoral strategy to tackle the underlying causes of HIV, teenage pregnancies, and gender-based violence.
“The scale of this challenge requires systemic accountability,” Senator Veronica said.
“KEWOSA is committed to using our legislative, oversight, and representative roles to ensure full implementation of the Children’s Act (2022) and the Basic Education Act (2013), guaranteeing every child’s right to safety, education, and health.”
Busia County’s senator praised the initiative, calling it “a timely and meaningful effort to protect our children and restore hope to our communities.”