KAKAMEGA COUNTY FORMALIZING PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS GBV, HIV AND TEEN PREGNANCY

The County Government of Kakamega is strengthening its multi-sectoral partnership with ICS SP to combat the escalating prevalence of teenage pregnancies, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and HIV/AIDS across the county.

The collaboration is a response to public health data indicating that Kakamega ranks among the most affected counties nationally, with approximately 16,000 adolescent girls having become pregnant before reaching the age of 15.

County Secretary and Head of Public Service Dr. Lawrence Omuhaka opened the forum and described the three social challenges as a growing crisis that demands urgent, coordinated and sustained action from both government and development partners.

The CS commended ICS for joining hands with the County in addressing the triple threat, noting that Governor Fernandes Barasa administration has already rolled out practical interventions aimed at reversing the trend, including integrating adolescent empowerment and education programmes within County polytechnics. The initiative seeks to equip young people with life skills, knowledge and opportunities that will enable them to make informed choices and build brighter futures.

Dr. Omuhaka further said the partnership will strengthen government systems to deliver sustainable parenting support and improve Early Childhood Development programmes, while calling on County Executives to mainstream triple threat interventions into their departmental plans and budgets. He urged departments to embrace a whole-of-government approach that will deliver lasting and measurable impact.

ICS SP Director Dr. Beatrice Ogutu said that tackling the threat requires strong collaboration between government, development partners, communities and families. She reaffirmed the organisations commitment to supporting Kakamega through evidence-based interventions that protect children, empower adolescent parents and teen mothers with knowledge, life skills and economic opportunities, while strengthening family systems to break the cycle of vulnerability.

The forum also unveiled findings from a countywide analysis conducted by ICS across all the 60 wards between 2022 and 2026 through the Gender transformative parenting program. The report identified key trends namely service gaps and priority intervention areas that will shape joint strategies to significantly reduce the triple threat across the county.

The forum was attended by senior County Executive Committee Members led by the CECM for Health Services, CPA Livingstone Imbayi.