In the small village of Karabok, western Kenya, 25 year old Mary Olouch was laid to rest after losing her life to a failed abortion. In the house next door, her little son turns the pages of photos, staring at the face of the mother he hardly got to know.
Community health volunteer Loice Ochieng believes Mary kept her secret hidden out of fear of stigma she would face. Loice explained that Mary may had hidden the truth because abortion is illegal and she feared being stigmatized by her community.
Sadly, Mary’s case is far from an isolation story. In Kenya, abortion is permitted only under specific circumstances, such as when a woman’s life or health is under danger. Yet, what qualifies as a health risk is still a subject of heated debate.
Because of the limited access to safe and legal services, many women turn to unsafe procedures carried out outside formal healthcare. One 24 year old woman, who chose to remain anonymous, shared how she suffered heavy bleeding and intense abdominal pain after an unsafe abortion.
A doctor later told her that arriving at the hospital when she did saved her life.
Lawyer Charles Kanjama, chairman of the Africa Christian Professionals Forum, has been a strong opponent of abortion. He insists that abortion on demand is a crime in Kenya and is actively involved in legal battles challenging its interpretation.
