This archive report was first published on 17 June 2020.
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, a disturbing trend has emerged in Machakos County: a sharp spike in teenage pregnancies.
According to Salome Muthama, Machakos' children's officer, the county has recorded 4,000 cases of teenage girls being impregnated since March, a number she fears may be higher.
Speaking at the Machakos Rescue Center in Katoloni on Tuesday, Muthama revealed that most of these pregnancies are the result of defilement by close family members.
Alarmingly, about 200 of the affected girls are below the age of 14.
Delays in justice have further exacerbated the situation, with Muthama citing the challenges of accessing courts and reporting cases due to the pandemic.
“During this Coronavirus pandemic, we have 4,000 teenage girls who have been impregnated,” Muthama said.
She emphasized the need for special court sittings to address these cases, stating, “All the people who have impregnated these children need to be arraigned, but it is becoming a challenge.”
The statistics show that Masinga sub-county is leading the list, with over 600 girls having been impregnated, followed by Athi River with more than 500 girls.
Magistrate Charles Ondieki, who was also present at the event, highlighted the shortage of advocates as a major challenge in handling such cases.
