Human rights activists fear teenage pregnancies could spike in Coast, Western amid Covid-19 crisis

With schools closed in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, there is a fast growing fear that parts of the country could experience a spike in teenage pregnancies.

Fear is rife that the situation could worsen in some areas like Coast and Western parts of the country where some of the counties were already grappling with alarming cases of underage pregnancies even before the government declared closure of schools.

And with all government efforts now focused on fighting Covid-19, child rights activists say pedophiles could take advantage of the closure of schools to lure girls into sexual activities.

Coast Regional Commissioner John Elungata said all government efforts are now focused on fighting Covid-19.

“We are now focused on fighting coronavirus, this is an emergency situation,” he said.

In Kilifi County, activists and human rights organisations are concerned that with the current situation where most of the attention is on Covid-19, there is a danger of explosion of cases of teenage pregnancies.

In Ganze Constituency, which recorded the highest cases between 2017 and 2018, there are currently more than 10 cases with all cases emanating from two wards of Kachororoni and Vilwakwe.

Sauti ya Wanawake, Ganze Sub County Chairperson Judith Uchi says in one of the cases, a 15-year-old from Masemo Primary School was impregnated by his uncle before it later emerged that her own father has been defiling her for close to 10 years since she was in kindergarten.

According to Uchi, the said 15-year-old and her uncle were caught in the act and on interrogation she said it was the first time she was engaging in the act.