While COVID-19 reshaped lives globally, Kenya faces a hidden crisis: teen pregnancies have skyrocketed as schools remain closed and poverty deepens. 🏫➡️🏚️ Meet Victoria, 16, who became pregnant during lockdown after her boyfriend vanished. Her story mirrors thousands of girls now trapped between stigma and survival.
🔍 Why it’s happening: With schools closed for nearly a year, girls lost access to safe spaces and mentorship. NGOs report that pregnancies in some regions tripled in 2020. In refugee camps like Kakuma, cases jumped from 15 to 51 in just six months. 📈
💔 The human cost: Many teens face depression, unsafe abortions, or trading sex for basic necessities like sanitary pads. 'They’ve become bait to predators,' says Martha Mwende of Kenya’s Real Hope Group, which supports pregnant teens.
🌍 Bigger picture: Even pre-pandemic, Kenya had one of Africa’s highest teen pregnancy rates. Now, experts warn of a 'lost generation' of girls who may never return to school. Activists urge stronger government action and counseling programs.
Victoria’s dream? 'To finish school and become a chef.' But without support, her future—and Kenya’s—hangs in the balance. 🎓🍳
