Dreams on hold: How teenage pregnancy, HIV, and gender-based violence are stealing girls’ futures

In Kenya, thousands of girls are losing their futures to the “triple threat” of teenage pregnancy, HIV infection, and gender-based violence (GBV). Combined, these three challenges are a disruptor to education, a driver of poverty, and keep many young women repeating cycles of trauma and disadvantage. 

Kajiado County is at the epicentre of this crisis, silently eroding the futures of its girls and young women. The combination is lethal: girls pushed into sexual exploitation or early marriages face pregnancies that end their education, while lack of information and power leaves them vulnerable to HIV. For many, this is not just a statistic; it is a stolen childhood.

According to the Kenya Health Information System (KHIS), Kajiado continues to record among the highest numbers of teenage pregnancies and GBV cases in the country.

The problem is especially pronounced in the Majengo area, an informal settlement in Kajiado Central, where poverty, drug abuse, and harmful cultural practices fuel the cycle. Unless urgent interventions are scaled up, the county risks raising a generation of girls trapped in poverty, poor health, and trauma.

Behind the numbers are young women like Lydia and Agnes.

Lydia, the youngest in her family of six, was a bright student at St. Ignatius Secondary School when peer pressure from friends led her into her first relationship. “We dated for three months, then one day, I missed my periods. I bought a pregnancy test kit, and it was positive,” she recalls. She tried to hide her pregnancy under her school sweater until her teacher noticed.

The pregnancy changed everything. “I used to score B and C grades, but after I got pregnant my performance dropped to Ds. My dream of becoming a nurse collapsed. I felt like my life was over.”

When she finally gave birth, Lydia faced stigma from her community and the burden of caring for her baby. Today, she studies Human Resource Management on a scholarship, but her dream of becoming a nurse lingers. “My advice to girls is to focus on education. You can’t serve two masters.”

Agnes’s story is equally heartbreaking. She excelled in her primary exams but was forced to stay home when her parents could not afford secondary school. An uncle promised to support her education, but after a family tragedy, the promise fell apart. At home, poverty gnawed at her. “We sometimes went without food. My father was ill, my mother weak. I had to find casual jobs to support my siblings,” she says.

At 17, Agnes entered a relationship with a man who initially supported her. But when she became pregnant, he disappeared. “He refused to support me. His family cut ties too. I was left alone.” She delivered her baby alone. “People said I was cursed. It was unbearable.”

Today, Agnes earns a living by doing hairdressing and laundry. “I wanted to be a doctor, but now I just hope to give my child a better life. My baby is the reason I fight.”

Faced with these grim realities, organizations and community champions have mobilized to confront the triple threat head-on.

The Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC), with support from UN Women, has led interventions in Kajiado Central. Dylex Jepchirchir, a Programmes Officer at GVRC, explains, “We focused on prevention, advocacy, and community engagement. We trained teachers, healthcare providers, chiefs, and Nyumba Kumi leaders so they can respond better to GBV, teenage pregnancy, and HIV.”

One of their flagship efforts is the Kings and Queens Clubs in primary schools. These peer-to-peer clubs are led by pupils and provide safe spaces for children to discuss self-esteem, child protection, reproductive health, and report abuse. “A school is a community,” Jepchirchir notes, “When teachers are trained, they cascade knowledge to children, who in turn influence their peers and even their parents.”

Healthcare workers have also been brought into the fight. GVRC trained 20 healthcare providers in Kajiado Central and East, who then cascaded knowledge to community health promoters. The GVRC model emphasizes a survivor-centred approach. Health workers and administrators are trained to respect confidentiality, dignity, and privacy when handling survivors. 

Beyond GVRC, local organizations have stepped in. Ewang’an, a youth-led community-based group, uses skits, music, and dance to engage youth on GBV, HIV prevention, and family planning. “Lectures do not work with teenagers. We use edutainment to pass the message,” explains Evelyn Mwasya, a lecturer at Maa Institute of Professional Studies and an advocate for reproductive health.

Her group has worked with 20 young mothers, providing sessions on family planning, HIV testing, and entrepreneurship. Some have returned to school, others started small businesses. “We want to break the cycle. These girls deserve second chances,” Mwasya says.

Local chiefs and Nyumba Kumi elders have also been engaged in dialogue sessions, helping to bridge the gap between policy and community realities.

Despite progress, challenges remain. Deep-rooted cultural practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and early marriage continue to push girls out of school.

For survivors like Lydia and Agnes, these interventions have been lifelines. Lydia now attends sessions where she learns about contraceptives and family planning. “If I had known earlier, my story would be different. But I’m glad I can still dream,” she says. Agnes, meanwhile, finds strength in support groups. “We encourage each other. I no longer think of giving up. My baby keeps me going.”

Both young women want their stories to protect others. “Don’t rush. Focus on education,” Lydia urges. Agnes adds, “No matter how hard it gets, never give up. Life can still be rebuilt.”