Impact of Coronavirus on Kenyan Youth
A recent study as reported by Capital News Kenya, shows that the coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on adolescents in Kenya. The report indicates that up to half of Kenyan youth are depressed due to the challenges they face. There are daily occurrences reported in the Kenya media of young people taking their own lives.
The research, conducted by the Presidential Policy and Strategy Unit (PASU) and supported by AMREF Health Africa has attributed this to the lockdowns, with many school learners suffering from lack of funds and basic resources for living such as food and personal hygiene products. Many people lost their jobs or experienced reduced income due to salary cuts, making it difficult for them to support their families.
Some urban schools have access to the internet; however, the majority including rural schools do not have the infrastructure to support digital learning. The results showed many students discouraged, falling behind in their studies and as a result not returning to school. The challenge for many to find accommodation, and hustle for the necessities of life was overwhelming. In May this year, 12,000 learners who registered for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations in 2020 did not turn up, many of them being girls.
“About half of all adolescents said they had experienced symptoms of depression. Reflecting the harsh economic realities during the pandemic, 75% reported skipping meals when their families could not afford food. When schools reopened in January 2021, 16% of girls and 8% of boys did not return to school. This translates to approximately 250,000 girls and 125,000 boys,” the report states.
Many youth have experienced mental disorders. In Kenya, it is estimated that one in every 10 people suffer from mental stress, with experts saying depression and anxiety disorders are the leading mental illnesses diagnosed in Kenya.
Another critical issue is the unavailability of vaccines. Currently it is estimated that only 4% of the Kenyan population of 54 Million has received a single dose to counteract the effects of Covid19 coronavirus. Priorities for the elderly and front-line workers have so far excluded most of Kenya's youth –– roughly 25 million under the age of thirty years. Young people are waiting their turn, and while doing so are understandably concerned about their own safety and future well-being.
CES Kenya Alumni Chair Edwin Nyongesa Juma, recently reported that most of the CES alumni still in school are experiencing financial stress, with some having to postpone their classes due to the fact they have to work to survive. Meeting the requirements of school fees is a constant barrier to their ongoing studies.
There is a critical need to address the reality of school dropouts, teenage pregnancies, lost learning momentum, domestic violence, and other negative consequences of the pandemic on the lives of adolescents in Kenya.