This archive report was first published on 26 August 2020.
August 26, 2020 - Nairobi, Kenya
It has been 10 years since Kenya adopted a new Constitution, but the country still struggles to ensure women and girls have access to safe and legal abortion, according to Narc-Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua.
Speaking during a virtual meeting organized by the Centre for Reproductive Health, Karua said that abortion stigma, misinformation, and the lack of implementation of court decisions are key contributors to the status quo.
“Unsafe abortion remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity in the country, we, therefore, cannot talk of beyond zero maternal mortality unless we focus on implementing Article 26(4),” she told participants during the online meeting held on Tuesday.
Article 26(4) of the Constitution permits abortion if a trained health professional deems it necessary for emergency treatment or if the life or health of the mother is in danger, or if permitted by any other written law.
Karua, who served as the Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister between 2003 and 2009, faulted the government for dragging its feet in implementing a substantive law on the matter, leading to more women procuring unsafe abortions.
Centre for Reproductive Health Senior Regional Director for Africa, Evelyn Opondo, urged Parliament and the Ministry of Health to fast-track the enactment of legislation that will provide clear standards and guidelines on abortion as a sign of commitment to reduce unsafe abortion.
“If we do nothing, we’ll lose about 27,000 women and girls in the next 10 years. These are preventable deaths. We are refusing to take action. Our hope relies on active citizenship. We must hold our governments accountable. We must demand our rights,” Opondo stated.
