Rights groups urge government to decriminalise safe abortion
Reproductive health organizations in Kenya are calling on the government to decriminalize safe abortion to reduce maternal mortality rates. They argue that unsafe procedures, often driven by lack of access, are a major public health crisis.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing global debate regarding reproductive rights and the intersection of public health policy and legal frameworks in Africa.
Reproductive Health Human Rights Lobby Groups in Nakuru have petitioned the government to decriminalise safe abortion in Kenya, citing rising numbers of unsafe procedures and maternal deaths.
The civil society organisations, including the Reproductive Health Champions Organisation (RHCO), the Nakuru Reproductive Health Network (NRHN), and the Hope in Life Society (HILS), made the call during this year’s International Safe Abortion Day on Monday.
“We, the undersigned Civil Society Organisations committed to advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) across Kenya, come together to commemorate International Safe Abortion Day 2026 under the theme Solidarity in Action: Advance Reproductive Justice and Urgently Strengthen Health Systems for Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC),” the groups said in a joint statement.
Executive Director to SRHR Mr. Martin Lunalo noted that 8.3 million women and girls in Africa undergo unsafe abortions each year, making it one of the leading causes of maternal mortality.
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