COVID-19: Over 4,000 school-going teens impregnated in Machakos

The devastating effects of the novel Coronavirus pandemic is already being felt in the country; from families, communities to economies the impact is being felt, however, we are yet to feel the full impact.

The government measures to contain the spread of the virus is not only being felt by those working in the informal sector alone. Organizations and corporates have been hard hit by the pandemic resulting in a massive lay off of employees. An estimated 1 million jobs have been lost in the country since the beginning of the year, a figure that is poised to increase as more companies continue to lay off employees.

Marriages on the other hand have also been rocked with increased cases of violence with Health CS urging Kenyans to amicably solve domestic issues and handle stress levels responsibly.

Whilst the focus has primarily been on the economic effects of the pandemic, the prolonged closure of schools is slowly leading to another emergency; early teenage pregnancies among children. Factors leading to early teenage pregnancies and child marriage in the normal setting is exacerbated during pandemics such as this that has taken children out of schools for long with uncertainty to when children will be back.

Machakos County has reported that about 4,000 school girls below the age of 19 have been impregnated in the last four months alone.

According to Machakos Children Department Officer, Salome Muthama, early teenage pregnancies in the County has increased due to the prolonged closure of schools as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 Ms. Muthama pointed an accusing finger to parents for neglecting their children and urged parents them to step up in their role saying a majority of the cases involve close relatives.