Kenya – Implement Constitution to end preventable maternal deaths

By Evelyne Opondo
September 6th 2021

On August 27, the country marked 11 years since the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, a supreme order that ushered the promise of reproductive rights autonomy, including abortion care. Unfortunately, women and girls of reproductive age continue to grapple with challenges when accessing essential health services. They face harassment, arbitrary arrests, prosecution and even encounter healthcare providers reluctant to offer services.

These challenges are exacerbated by the government’s lackadaisical approach to bringing sections of the Penal Code, such as the blanket ban on abortion services, into alignment with the Constitution. The ambiguity has compelled licensed healthcare practitioners to shy away from providing abortion and post-abortion care to women and girls, even in emergency situations, for fear of criminal sanctions, despite being allowed by the law.

Continued: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/opinion/article/2001422768/implement-constitution-to-end-preventable-maternal-deaths


Safe abortions will save our future

March 1, 2021
By Alvin Mwangi

Every year almost half of all pregnancies – 121 million – are unintended. This is according to the World Health Organization report that was released in September last year.

Between 2015 and 2019, on average, 73.3 million induced (safe and unsafe) abortions occurred worldwide each year.

Continued: https://citizentv.co.ke/blogs/opinion-safe-abortions-will-save-our-future-7442434/


Kenya – Unsafe abortion: The problem nobody wants to talk about

Unsafe abortion: The problem nobody wants to
talk about

By MERCY KAHENDA AND SAADA HASSAN
August 31st 2020

The images still sneak up to her when she least expects. They come unannounced,
and they torture her. Eve never imagined that the process of trying to get rid
of an unplanned baby could leave her with physical and emotional scars that
have refused to go away.

When she speaks of abortion, she whispers. The shame she feels lingers in every
word she utters.

“I get bad dreams and I am haunted by the
act,” she says.

Continued: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/the-standard-insider/article/2001384569/unsafe-abortion-the-problem-nobody-wants-to-talk-about


Kenya – Medics’ attitude and stigma still a barrier to safe abortion

Medics’ attitude and stigma still a barrier to safe abortion
Law permits abortion in cases where mother's health is at risk

by Daniel Otieno
Star Blogs
07 November 2019

The Constitution of Kenya permits abortion if in the opinion of a trained health care provider, the life of the woman is in danger or if a written law permits it. A written law here being any legislation passed by Parliament that permits termination of a pregnancy.

However, despite the Constitution being in place, many women still undergo unsafe abortion including going for backstreet methods and untrained midwives. The attitudes of health workers that are backed by religious values, the stigma associated with an unintended pregnancy, limited conversations between parents and adolescents, a lack of life skills education in schools and limited allocations to improving maternal health contribute to cases of unsafe abortion.

Continued: https://www.the-star.co.ke/opinion/star-blogs/2019-11-07-medics-attitude-and-stigma-still-a-barrier-to-safe-abortion/


Kenya – WHO guidelines on abortion will reduce maternal death

WHO guidelines on abortion will reduce maternal deaths

by Daniel Otieno
Star Blogs
25 October 2019

In 1967, the World Health Organization highlighted unsafe abortion as a health issue affecting women.

However, it wasn’t until 1987 when the safe motherhood conference was held in Nairobi that the world understood unsafe abortion as a public health concern. At the International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo in 1994, governments again identified unsafe abortion as a public health concern and pledged their commitment to reducing the need for abortion through expanded and improved family planning services.

Continued: https://www.the-star.co.ke/opinion/star-blogs/2019-10-25-who-guidelines-on-abortion-will-reduce-maternal-deaths/


International Safe Abortion Day: Why Kenya needs clarity on safe abortion guidelines

International Safe Abortion Day: Why Kenya needs clarity on safe abortion guidelines

By Purity Nthiana
September 28th, 2019

This weekend, the world will be marking the International Safe Abortion Day, on 28th September. This comes in the wake of the recent High Court ruling to reinstate the 2012 Standards and Guidelines for Reducing Morbidity and Mortality from Unsafe Abortion in Kenya.

While many reproductive health advocates have lauded the court’s decision as a win for women, many Kenyans are still in the dark regarding what the document actually says.

Continued: https://nairobinews.nation.co.ke/blog/international-safe-abortion-day-why-kenya-needs-clarity-on-safe-abortion-guidelines


Kenya – Standards Are Not Enough: Policy Implementation Remains Central

Standards Are Not Enough: Policy Implementation Remains Central

August 22, 2019
By Melvine P. Ouyo

In 2013, Kenya’s Ministry of Health made the devastating decision to withdraw the Standards and Guidelines for Reducing Morbidity and Mortality from Unsafe Abortion. This caused a huge influx in untrained back street abortions, immense suffering, and the loss of countless lives. After six years of irreversible damage from this decision, Kenya’s High Court issued a clear ruling this summer: the government had violated the rights of Kenyan women and girls by withdrawing the Standards and Guidelines. It was a revolutionary moment for Kenyan communities.

The worldwide movement to give women freedom to choices first culminated at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, Egypt. The conference brought diverse views of human rights, population, sexual and reproductive health, gender equality and sustainable development. It marked a global consensus that placed human dignity and human rights—including the right to plan a family—at the heart of development.

Continued: https://www.africa.com/standards-are-not-enough-policy-implementation-remains-central/


Kenya – Health ministry must obey court on abortion guidelines

Health ministry must obey court on abortion guidelines

Tuesday July 16 2019
By JOACHIM OSUR

The High Court recently nullified the Ministry of Health’s withdrawal of service delivery standards and guidelines and a training curriculum on abortion that had been in force for close to six years.

When the current Constitution was being written, abortion was a major contentious issue. Some campaigners against the draft used abortion to get votes at the referendum. Many of abortion-based arguments were confusing, with opponents out to convince all and sundry that the new Constitution would open floodgates for abortion.

Continued: https://www.nation.co.ke/oped/opinion/Health-ministry-must-obey-court-on-abortion-guidelines/440808-5198506-xuya3mz/index.html


KENYA – Victory in Landmark Ruling Challenging the Withdrawal of ‘The Standards & Guidelines’

KENYA - Victory in Landmark Ruling Challenging the Withdrawal of 'The Standards & Guidelines'

13 June 2019

On 12 June 2019, the Center for Reproductive Rights won a landmark case challenging the Kenyan government’s withdrawal of the “Standards and Guidelines for Reducing Morbidity and Mortality from Unsafe Abortion in Kenya” (Standards & Guidelines). The Center filed the case on behalf of an adolescent (JMM)—who died last year after suffering from complications that resulted from an unsafe abortion—as well as the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Kenya and two community human rights advocates. The case was presided over by a five-judge bench at the Nairobi High Court.

In this ground-breaking decision, the Court found that the Director of Medical Services and the Ministry of Health had violated the rights of Kenyan women and girls by arbitrarily withdrawing the guidelines, thereby creating uncertainty as to the status of legal abortion and discouraging medical providers from performing abortions for fear of criminal prosecution. It provided a comprehensive ruling which:

Continued: https://mailchi.mp/safeabortionwomensright/kenya-victory-in-landmark-ruling-challenging-the-withdrawal-of-the-standards-guidelines?e=372dd34034


Kenya – Ambiguity in abortion guidelines causing death of women and girl

Ambiguity in abortion guidelines causing death of women and girls

Monday March 11 2019
By EVELYNE OPONDO

The International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made towards gender equality — and we must as well consider the work that still needs to be done to ensure women and girls can participate with dignity as equal members of society.

Improving maternal health outcomes is an integral component in achieving gender equality. While the maternal mortality rate has declined in Kenya, the risk of women dying from pregnancy complications remains high.

Continued: https://www.nation.co.ke/oped/opinion/Ambiguity-in-abortion-guidelines-causing-death-/440808-5020152-13qcd19/