Kenya on Sunday joined the world in marking International Safe Abortion Day, with renewed calls from health experts and rights groups for greater access to safe, respectful and rights-based abortion care.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN’s Human Reproduction Programme (HRP) say unsafe abortion remains a major public health concern. Globally, 45% of all abortions are still carried out unsafely, leading to preventable deaths and long-term health complications.
In Kenya, the Ministry of Health estimates that at least 2,600 women die every year due to unsafe abortion, while tens of thousands suffer complications that strain public hospitals.
WHO argues that abortion, when performed using recommended methods, is a simple and safe intervention that reduces maternal deaths and upholds the dignity of women and girls. Kenya, however, remains divided on the issue, with the Constitution restricting abortion except in cases where the mother’s health is at risk.
This year, WHO updated its Abortion Care Guideline and included key medicines, mifepristone and misoprostol, on its Model List of Essential Medicines. While the law ultimately guides access, the move signals stronger global recognition that abortion is part of basic health care.
