Coronavirus crisis has been found to occasion anxiety, uncertainties, and stress to Nairobi teenagers and youths.

In a webinar that converged over 200 youths, the participants said they have resolved to drugs and sexual activities to kill boredom.

The youths reported having engaged in more sexual activities after job loss and school closure. Sexual crimes increased too.

In the Webinar organised by Thellesi Co, the founder and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) Kennedy Odede urged the youth to engage in community activities to kill boredom.

He highlighted the confusion among teenagers and youths in matters sexual education.

“Our teenagers are confused and they have resulted into the sexual activities and drugs,” said Mr.Odede.

He also pointed at a crisis in reproductive health. In his SHOFCO clinics in Kibera, they recorded 200 teen pregnancies in Kibera in the first three months after schools were closed.

Community action

Odede said there is a need for all community stakeholders including the church to come together and address the crisis.

“It is the right moment to ask ourselves if there is a crisis. And if there is, we need to do away with our beliefs and call even the pastors to talk to our children. We need to listen to the teenagers too,” he added.

Children experiences with their parents is also to blame for the upsurge in pregnancies among school going children.

Odede, who grew up in Kibera slums, said he lived with his parents and six siblings in a 10 by 10 room.

“Some parents are traumatizing their children. Parents should not pretend that children above five years of age do not know what their parents do at night. So as they grow up, they want to experiment it,” he said.

He emphasized on the need of sex education among children from a tender age.

“Sex education is very important. Parents should stop telling their children, babies are bought. We need to change the way we are communicating with our children. The role of the parents and guardians is to speak the truth,” he said.