Kenya’s Abortion Law Reform: A Tale of Hope and Despair
This chapter examines the history, legal evolution, and ongoing challenges surrounding abortion law reform in Kenya. The authors discuss how, despite constitutional reforms in 2010 expanding legal grounds for safe abortion, significant barriers persist due to conflicting penal laws, criminal prosecution of women and providers, and vocal anti-gender movements. Ultimately, the piece demonstrates how these ongoing socio-political and legal contestations leave safe abortion largely inaccessible, driving high rates of unsafe abortions and maternal mortality across the country.
A Legal and Policy Audit on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in East Africa
This report provides a multi-country audit evaluating the constitutional, legislative, and policy frameworks governing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) across East African Community (EAC) member states. The analysis assesses the alignment of national legal systems with international standards, examining key areas such as maternal health, safe abortion, gender-based violence, contraception access, and youth […]
The Missing link to Kenya’s universal health coverage experiment: a preventive and promotive approach to SRHR
This article evaluates Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) rollout and its failure to adequately deliver on constitutional guarantees for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). Effective SRHR relies on prioritizing preventive and promotive health measures that actively target systemic legal, policy, and informational barriers. Ultimately, Kenya’s UHC essential benefits package falls short by neglecting constitutional SRHR commitments and leaving historical inequities in healthcare access unaddressed.
Unmasking Patriarchy: The Family and Traditional Values Discourse and The Quest for The Reproductive Health and Rights of Women
This article examines how conservative rhetoric surrounding “traditional family values” and religious doctrine is weaponized to undermine women’s reproductive health and rights in Africa. It highlights how patriarchal structures co-opt political and judicial systems to restrict bodily autonomy, narrow constitutional protections, and roll back existing legal frameworks. Ultimately, the piece calls for a feminist counter-narrative that exposes these reactionary discourses to safeguard human rights and advance reproductive justice across the region.
Gaps in Enforcement of the Sexual Offences Act in Kenya
This study finds that, despite Kenya’s Sexual Offences Act, survivors of sexual violence still face major barriers to justice, including poor reporting systems, police misconduct, weak referrals, evidentiary gaps, harmful legal provisions and long court processes. It recommends legal, policy, institutional and resourcing reforms to make the response to sexual violence more survivor-centred, dignified and effective.