Beryl, 18, from Lindi, gently rocks her five-month-old son to sleep while remembering the day her life took a dramatic turn. She was still i...
Beryl, 18, from Lindi, gently rocks her five-month-old son to sleep while remembering the day her life took a dramatic turn. She was still in school in Migori county when she discovered she was pregnant.
"I wished to end it, but my sister persuaded me to continue," she says.
At the beginning, I would cry every time I told my story. Now, within the group, I laugh and feel lighter.
Her laughter, similar to that of other participants in the Awoche Foundation's teen mothers' group, represents the sound of recovery.
For Beryl and numerous girls in Kibera, becoming pregnant at a young age led to the end of their education, being cast out from their homes, and economic struggles.
The social stigma associated with teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence frequently leaves them feeling alone and at risk.
As per the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (2022), 15 percent of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 in Kenya have already experienced pregnancy, with the highest prevalence found in informal settlements and rural counties.
In Kibera, hardship and dense population increase the dangers.
A 2022 study conducted by the African Population and Health Research Centre revealed that 44 percent of teenagers living in Nairobi's informal areas experienced mental health issues within the last year, yet only 11 percent sought professional help.
At Makina Clinic, nurse Eliakim Juma has witnessed the impact of sexual and gender-based violence up close.
He states, 'The most frequent challenges faced by teenage mothers are both physical and mental.'
We witness unexpected pregnancies, infections, and malnutrition, but the emotional wounds run deeper.
Common conditions such as post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression are frequently experienced, and the associated stigma often pushes survivors deeper into solitude.
Through the Awoche Foundation, Beryl has gained expertise in baking and beauty.
She also utilizes the Tiko app, which links young women with medical professionals, birth control, and guidance. "It makes me feel supported," she mentions.
Technology is subtly transforming the way support is provided to young mothers in Kibera. With the Tiko app, girls accumulate "miles" by utilizing reproductive health services, including HIV testing, birth control, or guidance.
Those miles can be exchanged for feminine hygiene products, baby essentials, or literature. The application also links users with medical professionals, therapists, and secure clinics, overcoming the loneliness that stigma frequently causes.
As per the Awoche Foundation, 90 mobilizers, including girls and women over the age of 18, are utilizing the Tiko app to connect with others in their community.
STIGMA ANTIDOTE
Stella Atieno, 23, hailing from Makina, became a mother at the age of 18, and her journey has not been straightforward.
She could earn money by doing laundry for others, but because of certain detergents she used, her fingers became partially burned.
"At Awoche, I have gained knowledge in baking and beauty. This kept me occupied because at one time, I nearly took my own life, but my child gave me hope," she says.
As a community organizer in Awoche, the Tiko app has been very beneficial to me, and I can use it without any sense of shame.
At Makina Clinic, nurse Juma highlights helplines and WhatsApp groups that offer private guidance.
The girls call the helpline, 0800721022, and also chat in their WhatsApp group.
Some females employ symbolic emojis when they are unable to express themselves freely. These resources have truly saved lives.
For Jacinta, 19, hailing from Bombolulu, that silence felt oppressive.
"Everyone turned their back on me. However, I returned to school and completed Form 4. My child inspires me," she says gently.
At the Awoche Foundation, Jacinta received guidance and skill development in hairdressing and baking. However, expenses related to child care continue to be a challenge.
I once had a job, but daycare took everything. At least with Tiko miles, I can redeem diapers and essentials," she says. "My aunt no longer sees me as a burden.
Similar to Beryl, Jacinta is part of an increasing number of young women leveraging online platforms to obtain medical care and take back control of their lives.
For some, living has become a form of activism.
FIGHT FOR RIGHTS
Halima, now 16,Was sexually assaulted by a friend of a relative. Overwhelmed by embarrassment, she eventually found support through therapy at MakinaClinic.
Now she serves as a peer mentor, assisting others in accessing support.
"She transformed her trauma into resilience," nurse Juma states.
These narratives reflect a broader national trend. According to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 42 percent of teenagers have faced some type of gender-based violence.
However, reporting is still minimal, especially in informal settlements where confidence in institutions is weak.
In Kibera, the Awoche Foundation is redefining empowerment through a focus on sustainability.
"Periods don't wait for donations," states Iddah Akoth, the programs coordinator at the foundation.
Reusable pads are economical, secure, and eco-friendly. They also provide girls with a source of income.
Her group educates young mothers on creating reusable menstrual pads, which helps decrease waste while addressing menstrual poverty and clogged drains resulting from single-use pads.
In a neighborhood where plastic waste and inadequate sanitation are long-standing issues, these small initiatives make a significant difference. By creating and using reusable pads, the girls from Kibera are transforming a personal necessity into an environmentally friendly action.
They also learn how to make soap, bake, and braid, skills that merge hygiene awareness with financial self-sufficiency.
Iddah says, 'Twelve out of 15 girls who participated in baking training have launched their own small businesses.'
They are not only making money, but also restoring their self-esteem.
AUTHORITIES INVOLVED
Local authorities are becoming aware. Kibera's senior assistant chief, Asia Ramadhan, collaborates with peer educators and non-governmental organizations to enhance these initiatives.
"We involve parents via schools and Chief's Barazas," she states.
The community is gradually supporting the battle against SGBV, yet stigma continues to keep many quiet.
Her office also advocates for proper waste disposal and promotes awareness about sanitation, connecting social justice with environmental health. Kenya's teenage birth rate decreased slightly from 18 percent in 2014 to 15 percent in 2022, although the reduction is slower in informal settlements.
For many of these young women, the divide between policy and practice remains significant.
Nevertheless, the outlook is positive. By utilizing digital communication, community-driven activism, and long-term income opportunities, survivors are shaping their own destinies.
"I attempt to communicate with them because I don't want the same thing that happened to me to occur to them," says Stella, 23, who is now a mobilizer with the Tiko app.
"Focus on studying first. Life is difficult. Men may lie and abandon you with pregnancies. Parents should love their daughters, not turn them away." What is happening in Kibera is not only social change, but also a technological and ecological transformation starting from the grassroots.
Teen mothers, who were previously overlooked, are now developing digital skills, creating sustainable enterprises, and raising environmental consciousness in one of the world's most difficult urban environments.
Through the integration of technology and eco-friendly innovation, they are demonstrating what Kenya's dual transition can genuinely represent: empowerment that benefits both individuals and the planet.
From quietness to power, their voices are emerging, calling for respect, fairness, and a future that is more intelligent, equitable, and environmentally friendly.
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