A new report by the Ministry of Health has exposed the devastating toll of abortion-related stigma and legal restrictions on the health and lives of Kenyan women, particularly in the Western and Nyanza regions.
According to the report, titled “Incidence of Induced Abortions and the Severity of Abortion-Related Complications in Kenya,” over 792,000 induced abortions were recorded in 2023—accounting for 27.8 per cent of all pregnancies. Of the 2.85 million pregnancies reported nationwide, more than half were unintended.
The report, launched in Mariwa Centre, Awendo Constituency by Women Collective Kenya, was conducted by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) and the Guttmacher Institute. It marks the first national study on abortion incidence and post-abortion care in the country.
“This report shows clearly that despite the negative perception we have against abortion and stigma around it, it is still happening in our society. We should avoid burying our heads in the sand like the proverbial ostrich,” said Lillian Maina, a project officer with Women Collective Kenya.
Speaking during a public baraza attended by grassroots women and health officials, Maina noted that the Western and Nyanza regions led in cases requiring post-abortion care. The findings, she said, raise concerns about the region’s access to contraceptives and broader reproductive health services.
“Some of these unintended pregnancies arise from rape, incest, or lack of access to family planning. Because of stigma, many women resort to unsafe methods that result in death, coma, or permanent complications,” she added.
The report reveals that 42 per cent of women who had abortions declined to use contraceptives due to fear of side effects, while 1.4 per cent of post-abortion care cases resulted in death or coma. A further 16.4 per cent involved life-threatening complications.
Despite the scale of the crisis, only 24 per cent of referral hospitals and 18 per cent of other health facilities are equipped to provide post-abortion care, raising concerns about the country’s capacity to deal with abortion-related health emergencies.
Migori County Reproductive Health Officer, Susan Agunda, called for more education and access to reproductive health services for women aged 15 to 49 years, who are most at risk.
“Provision of quality healthcare is a right. Due to stigma and lack of services, many women are turning to unqualified individuals and backstreet clinics,” Agunda said.
Dorothy Otieno, a member of Women Collective, said her organisation provides counselling services to women considering abortion to reduce complications and promote informed choices.
The report’s findings come at a time when Kenya continues to grapple with restrictive abortion laws. The Constitution permits abortion only under specific conditions, including when the life or health of the mother is at risk.
Healthcare stakeholders and women’s rights advocates are now calling for a more open national conversation on abortion, improved access to contraceptives, and enhanced reproductive health services to prevent further loss of life.
