As this was happening, all the good friends she used to keep turned their backs against her. The many men who used to follow her up and down are nowhere to be seen. She is now wondering which way to go as her stomach becomes bigger with each successive day.

She is now walking with her head downcast. She is now a product of the girl-child’s failed attempt at having a quality and bright future. She is like hundreds, or could be thousands of teenage girls in Eastlands, who have dropped out of primary schools due to teenage pregnancy and motherhood.

Nearly every household in Eastlands has a girl or two, who are or have given birth at home. Most of these teenage mothers have dropped out of school and are now taking care of their babies living with their parents in single-roomed houses dotting the landscape of Eastlands. These girls have their hands full since, apart from having to take care of their own babies they also have to look after their younger siblings.

Every day these young girls, whose rightful place is school, walk around in groups going about the business of looking after their babies in the estates. You meet them on the way to the city council clinic, to the shop and on their way to draw water with their babies strapped on their backs. Some of them end up giving birth not only once, but at times three or more times. They all have lost hope and are living one day at a time, seeing their childhood dreams shattered.

But this is a trend that Stacy, a Standard Seven pupil at Halisi Academy in Kayole in Nairobi want to stop. Stacy is one of a new crop of girls who are going flat out after their dreams. She is having big plans for her lives and from the look of things, nothing is going to stop her, unless she decides to cave in to the pressures that come with being the girl-child growing up in Eastlands.

I am standing listening to a poem aptly titled I am a Kenyan that she is presenting with three other girls, though they have said in the introduction sit back, relax and enjoy. I can’t help but marvel at the girls’ passion.

Their well synchronized voices ring out clear in the humid air as they talk about their love for Kenya, a country they hope to leave better. As I left the four girls I can't help but feel that our country and indeed the whole of Africa is going to be left in safe hands, thanks to the new crop of girls like Stacy.

I’M A KENYAN

Look at me, from head to toe,
Take your time and look again,
I am a Kenyan.

Child of the soil,
Brought up by my father and mother
Educated in Kenya; land of education
Land of great heritage and splendor.

My mother Kenya,
As provided by my future,
Beautiful forests, high mountains,
flowing rivers and plenty of food to eat.

Why do you deny me my rights?
Why do you exploit the resources
that will ensure my survival?
Why do you isolate me?
By calling me Kikuyu, Jaluo,
Kamba and so-on
I’m a Kenyan
With a right to my mother’s inheritance.

I have a question, for my uncles in high offices
If I come to your house,
Would you regard me as your own?
If yes, I have a message for you;
Ensure that when I grow up,
I will find Kenya, just as good as you found it or even better!

I will speak fearlessly, and without favour
I will not be shaken nor misled,
From the truth that I know
Watch my lips; I am a Kenya
And mark you, watch this space!
– Written by Esther Ndegwa