The Kenyan government has stepped up efforts to reintegrate teenage mothers into the education system, with 200 young mothers in Bobasi Constituency, Kisii County benefiting from a new empowerment initiative aimed at supporting their return to school.
Speaking at an empowerment forum in Kisii, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fully implementing Kenya’s School Re-Entry Policy, which allows girls who drop out of school due to pregnancy to resume their education after childbirth.
Bitok emphasized that pregnancy should not mark the end of a girl’s academic journey, stressing that the government is determined to ensure no learner is denied access to education because she became a mother.
Despite the existence of clear re-entry guidelines, the PS acknowledged that stigma, poverty and limited awareness continue to prevent many teen mothers from returning to school. He noted that the Ministry of Education is collaborating with county governments, chiefs, school administrators and religious leaders to identify affected learners and encourage families to support their daughters’ education.
Bitok also urged school heads to comply with the President’s directive allowing students without uniforms or school fees to remain in school. He issued a strong warning to perpetrators of defilement, stating that the law would firmly address cases involving those responsible for impregnating underage girls.
“It is unfortunate that we have 200 teen mothers in Kisii facing difficulties in resuming their studies, but we are committed to changing that narrative,” he said.
Also present at the event was Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Stephen Isaboke, who encouraged young women who have completed secondary education to apply for the NYOTA programme to access government capital for income-generating ventures. He described the initiative as part of the government’s bottom-up economic model designed to empower youth and promote economic inclusion.
Isaboke further pledged to expand digital infrastructure in Kisii, including the rollout of digital superhighway cable and the establishment of standard digital hubs across constituencies to ensure young people are not left behind in technology.
Kisii Woman Representative Doris Aburi described the return-to-school initiative as a restoration of hope and dignity for young mothers. She condemned the rising cases of defilement in the region and called for stricter legal action against perpetrators, urging the judiciary to treat such cases as matters between the state and the accused to prevent compromise and guarantee justice for victims.
The empowerment of the 200 teen mothers in Bobasi reflects renewed efforts by the government and community stakeholders to enforce the school re-entry framework and protect girls’ right to education. Authorities maintain that with adequate support and protection, teenage motherhood does not have to end a girl’s pursuit of education but can instead become part of a broader story of resilience and opportunity
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