KENYA: Bishops Encourage Teaching Good Morals in Curbing Teenage Pregnancies
By Paschal Norbert
The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has condemned an attempt by some activists pushing for the introduction of Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE) in schools as a way of curbing teenage pregnancies, saying children need to be taught good morals.
In a statement read by Bishop of Nyahururu Diocese Rt. Rev. Joseph Mbatia at the Holy Family Minor Basilica Sunday, June 21, on the Feast of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Bishops stressed that it is the duty of parents to bring up children who are morally upright.
“Parents have the God-given privilege and obligation to bring forth life and to nurture every life they bring forth, especially in matters of virtues, values, and character-building, including appropriate education on human sexuality,” he said.
Bishop Mbatia who is Chairman of the Catholic Health Commission said that children are at high risk of domestic violence, alcohol, and substance abuse, defilement and lack of basic needs due to age-related vulnerabilities during this Coronavirus pandemic and, therefore, robust and principled family upbringing is one of the ways to curb the reported rising of teenage pregnancies in the country.
“We reiterate our belief that strong family values and personal responsibility on nurturing and safeguarding children, can go a long way towards eradicating or significantly reducing child sexual exploitation and the resultant teenage pregnancies that scatter life-goals of our dear children,” said Bishop Mbatia.
Bishop’s reaction follows an intense debate over some alarming statistics from a Kenya Health Information System survey indicating 4,000 teenage girls’ pregnancies in Machakos Country only during since the Covid-19 pandemic.
