About 4,000 schoolgirls below the ages of 19 have been impregnated in Machakos in the last four months alone.

That’s according to the Children’s Department.

Revealing the shocking figures to the press on Wednesday, Children’s Department Officer Salome Muthama said the incidences have increased following the COVID-19 pandemic which led to school closure.

According to a breakdown provided by Ms. Muthama, Masinga sub-county has 104 cases of pregnancies of children between the ages of 10-14 and another 601 cases for those in the 15-19 age bracket.

Athi River has seven pregnancies for minors aged 10-14 and 561 for those between 15-19; Machakos has 48 (ages 10-14) and 259 (ages 15-19); Yatta has 10 (ages 10-14) and 462 (ages 15-19).

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

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