Zamara Foundation Push for School Re-Admission of Teen Mothers

By Mbungu Harrison

Email,thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Kilifi County parents and guardians have been urged to ensure that girls who experience teenage pregnancy while in school are re-admitted to complete their education and achieve their dreams.

Zamara Foundation Executive Director Wamboi Kimani said schools in Kwale and the county continue to report cases of teenage pregnancy among school-going girls, although the trend is slowly declining.

Wamboi spoke on Saturday, January 24, 2026 during the foundation Gumzo Darasani program feedback meeting in Mombasa that brought together teachers from Kwale and Kilifi counties.

The teachers pledged to continue strengthening sexuality education in schools.

According to her there is need to protect girls from social ills such as teenage pregnancy and to uphold their right to education even after childbirth.

She added that the Gumzo Darasani program is set to expand to more schools across the Coast region.

Currently, the initiative has reached 13 schools in Kwale and Kilifi counties, mainly targeting learners in Grade 7 and above, with plans underway to scale up engagement and reach more girls at earlier stages of schooling.

“We are talking about re-entry to school for pregnant teenagers because getting pregnant is not end of life. We want to advocate for the following of the guideline put by the ministry so we calling for the adoption of that policy.

Today, we are commemorating one year and half of this Gumzo Darasani with many girls taking leadership of their own bodies and also succeeding in education,” she said adding that the program will expand to more schools.

Currently, only 13 schools mainly Grade 8 and above have been reached.

Through the Gumzo Darasani project, Zamara Foundation has reached at least 15 public schools in Kwale and Kilifi counties, sensitizing more than 600 school-going girls on sexuality education.

“There is this knowledge gap we want to fill, there’s this silence still within the community of people not speaking about sexual information among school going children, we must stand firm and speak to our children to get informed, so that they can avoid the pregnancy problem,” Wamboi said.

A recent survey by a local daily shows Kilifi still leads in teenage pregnancy cases at 79 percent, ahead of counties such as Nairobi, Kajiado, and Narok, despite sustained government and non-governmental interventions.

“Statistics show that early pregnancy are rampant in Kwale and Kilifi as well as early marriage, so it was important to start this conversation in schools, and we have reached to over 650 girls, and since we started the program, the girls we took into the programe they are now in schools expelling well, no pregnancies,” she said.

Some teachers, particularly from Kilifi County, revealed that most sexual abuse cases affecting schoolgirls are linked to close family members.

Nancy Nyachoga of Mkwajuni Junior School in Kilifi said the introduction of Gumzo Darasani had significantly reduced cases of teenage pregnancy in her school.

“In my school there has not been a case, we are seeing girls excelling well to high learning with good grades. We don’t want children to get pregnant while they are young and that’s why we encourage parents to support teachers and Zamara foundation as they continue to advocate for girl child education.”

Binthamisi Danda from Kiteje Junior and Primary School in Kwale County said the project has empowered girls to speak up and protect themselves.

“Teen pregnancies have reduced since the project started, because the girl child is now empowered on how to report and sexual assaults,” she said adding that she would continue sensitizing girls and advocating for their right to education.

She noted that poverty often exposes girls to early sexual exploitation.

“Sometimes the encouragement to get out of poverty pushes many girls to find themselves into early sexual exploitation which puts the girls in trouble,” she said.

Teachers at the meeting also raised concerns over alleged release of suspects arrested for sexual abuse, despite the availability of medical reports and other evidence.

Through Gumzo Darasani, Zamara Foundation is working with head teachers and education stakeholders to conduct training aimed at sensitizing girls, addressing sexual abuse, and keeping them in school.

Gumzo Darasani explores feminism in young girls’ lives, unpacks stereotypes, and celebrates their strength and potential.

“It is encouraging that we’re building a world where all girls can thrive,” Wamboi said.