Abstract:
The discourse of this paper is on theoretical perspectives on mechanisms applied by selected
traditional Kenyan ethnic groups to induct, control and check sexual behavior of adolescents. The
sexual behavior of the adolescents has been an area of concern for a long time to societies through out
the globe. In Kenya, traditional societies had premised this concern on the understanding that if not
checked; sexual behavior of adolescents could not only jeopardize the social order but also the overall
functioning of the society. In view of this, majority of traditional Kenyan cultural groups are
documented to have applied elaborate mechanisms of socializing, controlling and regulating sexual
behavior of the adolescents until they became of age. These control mechanisms varied cross
culturally but each society endeavored to produce a well adapted young person, with standard morals
and keen to perpetuate it. While majority of the societies enacted strict restrictive measures to regulate
and check adolescent sexual behavior, only one cultural group in Kenya allowed adolescents to
express as well as, get involved sexually.
