Women MPs demand more funds to support teen mothers
The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) is demanding more funds from the national government to cater for teen mothers in the country
The legislators led by their chair Gathoni Muchomba said most of the young girls who have been impregnated are very vulnerable and they need support.
Speaking in Maragua Murang'a, Gathoni said the money should be channeled through the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF).
She pointed out that the kitty will mainly be used in facilitating the basic needs of the victims most of who come from backgrounds living with poverty.
"In some families, even getting food is a problem and there is an extra burden on them," she said.
"The money we get is not enough to cater to these girls and given the numbers are rising by the day, we would require more funds," she said.
She also proposed for establishing of a special kitty for teen mothers who would like to go back to school after giving birth.
Her sentiments were echoed by the chair for Parliamentary Education Committee Florence Mutua who said they shall have to launch a nationwide campaign to have all the teen mothers get back to school once they reopen.
She said this will give the young girls a chance to continue with education and purse their dreams.
Mutua pointed out that there is a re entry education policy provided for in the basic education and it gives room for anyone who had dropped out of class to go back and continue learning.
"We are not going to sit back and watch the future of thousands of girls waste away just because they have become mothers at a tender age," she remarked.
Murang'a women representative Sabina Chege proposed for establishment of rescue kiotas in every county where the teen mothers who are rejected at home can be hosted and get a chance to continue with education.
"There are those girls who have been rejected from their homes and they have no where to go to," she said.
"We need to safeguard the lives and future of these girls and give them hope for a better tomorrow" she added.
