Global Women's Voices: Share Personal Stories

Henry Neondo, Kenya

Submitted by: Henry

The issue of abortion in Kenya is both an emotive and emotional one. Statistics of the magnitude of the problem varies depending on who is giving the figures.

If the figures are being released by the pro-choice, this would go as high as 200,000 with an equally high number of deaths.

But if this was by the pro-life, this would be about 300,000 abortions are performed in the country annually, with an estimated 20,000 women and girls to be hospitalized with related complications and a daily 'abortion rate' of about 800 procedures -- and the death of 2,600 women every year.

The probem is laws governing aboriton are those based on the Offences Against the Person Act, passed back in 1861 when Kenya was a British Colony.

The pro-choice groups are now calling for the review of the law and repeals of some aspects of the same they consider out of tune with the times.

However, gender activists are concerned that no individual person or government official is willing to call for a meeting where issues could be discussed and if possible, help bring the two antagonistic sides at some half way point.

I wish to file you a story on the emerging Controversial issue of abortion in Kenya and the East African region.

The writer is a journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya

updated: 8/11/2004 9:49:00 AM