Ruth Sidi’s story is typical. She gave birth to her six-month-old son, Onesmus, in May when she was 17, the product of a relationship with a shop assistant who slipped her treats in exchange for sex, but lost interest when she became a mother.

Jacqueline Furaha’s case is rather different. In August, she gave birth to a son, Vincent, while she was still at school. Three other girls in her class of 30 were also pregnant.

Neither Jacqueline not Ruth used protection during sex.

“We learnt nothing about contraceptives at school,” says Jacqueline. “I heard a little about them from friends but I didn’t know where to find them and probably wouldn’t have been able to afford them anyway.”

Jacqueline and Ruth may be single mothers, but say they are happy looking after their children. Now at vocational training school, they are learning the skills to support them as they grow.

Others are less fortunate. Infanticide may take a different form in rural counties like Kilifi, but it still happens.

Dozens of babies are rescued from pit latrines or in forests every year, county officials say, usually because people have heard them wailing. Those are the lucky ones, says Mrs Karisa, the county officer.

“Babies can be thrown into pit latrines and never found,” she explained. “The pit latrines fill up and are then covered over.”



A Coca-Cola spokesperson said: “The recent reports of newborn deaths in Kenya are deeply distressing and our deepest sympathies go out to the women and children who face such desperate situations. We know soft drinks are safe and can be enjoyed by many people around the world. However, it is widely recognized that milk is all that newborns need.”

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