With Donald Trump winning a second term in the November 5th American presidential election, fears are rising that women in Kenya who require abortion services could face more unsafe choices. During his last administration, Trump imposed the ‘global gag rule’ that blocked U.S. funding to international organizations that provide abortion services. As the USA provides around 95% of Kenya’s reproductive health funding, this makes the country particularly vulnerable to policy changes in the USA.
Cruel reality
The unexpected return home of Mary Wangui’s boss’s saved her life as she lay in a pool of blood in the bathroom. The bleeding stemming from the abortion she had earlier that morning had worsened and the pain was excruciating.
“I waited for my boss to go to work, and I rushed to a woman in the neighborhood my friend had recommended as an abortion specialist. The US$15 service almost cost me my life,” Mary narrates.
It is estimated that about 465,000 abortions are carried out in Kenya, with the majority of these being unsafe. In addition, 2,600 women die annually, while another 21,000 require hospitalization from complications arising from abortions.
“I couldn’t keep the baby for two reasons – I got pregnant through rape, and I knew I couldn’t love the baby. Plus, I couldn’t afford to take care of it,” Mary explained.
For women like Mary who is a house manager earning $50 a month, finding $100 to procure an abortion at a private facility would be a tall order.
Possible implications of Trump’s win
A reintroduction of anti-abortion policies would almost certainly mean that Kenyan women –especially those without the means to pay for private services – will have even fewer safe options.
Dr. Jeff Mwangi, the proprietor of a local clinic facility, highlights that a loss of funding could force local clinics to turn thousands of women away, leading to higher rates of unsafe abortions and maternal deaths. He stated he has helped many women and girls access the services at his facility for a subsidized fee of US$20 as he receives funding from US-based NGOs.
Mwangi explained that during Trump’s last administration, he and his clinic faced the most difficult years.
“I can’t count the number of women we turned away during that period. They couldn’t cover the cost, and some returned with complications after botched abortions from home remedies and untrained providers,” he explained.
Legal framework challenges
Article 26 (4) of the 2010 Constitution permits abortion if a health professional deems that the mother’s life is in danger or if permitted by other written law.
In addition, the Sexual Offenses Act permits abortion if a woman or girl becomes pregnant through rape or defilement. However, the 1963 Penal Code prohibited abortion, and those who contravene this face up to 14 years of imprisonment.
Dr. Mercy Nungari, a gynecologist in an established private hospital in Kenya, explained that because of these grey areas in the law, she prefers to send patients who request abortion services away.
“The hospital can’t risk being dragged into the mud by pro-life activists who take advantage of the law’s ambiguity. We advise them to go to hospitals like Marie Stopes,” she commented.
Community stigmatization
Shortly after the incident at her boss’s house, Mary had to leave that job due to the stigma she experienced in the community.
“There was this time I went to buy from a local greengrocer, and she refused to sell me any vegetables, saying she doesn’t sell to a murderer. I couldn’t leave the house for a week. I decided to move,” she said.
The stigma of abortion extends beyond the individual to the facilities that offer such services. Some locals even avoid seeking other medical treatment from those clinics known to provide abortion services.
“Some people won’t come for regular treatment here because we offer abortion services. Even Marie Stopes, in 2018, was banned from advertising these services due to public complaints,” Dr. Mwangi said.
