The new constitution is a major topic in Kenya at the moment. It will decide the rules and laws we will be abiding to. Up to now, Kenya has been abiding to a constitution that was made approximately 1962 in the UK. As you can tell, this constitution is outdated and does not help govern Kenya properly. There are many restrictions and issues that are caused by this constitution.
An Idea is to create a new constitution. Over 70% of Kenya’s population is under the age of 30. Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo, resulting in or caused by its death. A section on the draft constitution of Kenya, states that, every person has the right to life. The life of a person begins at conception. A person shall not be deprived of life intentionally, except to the extent authorized by this Constitution or other written law. Abortion is not permitted unless, in the opinion of a trained health
Professional, there is need for emergency treatment, or the life or health of the mother is in danger, or if permitted by any other written law.
The quote explains that abortion will not be legal but in a situation where the mother’s life is at risk. What about rape? Does this mean that if a woman or a girl has been rapped then she cannot have an abortion? Do you feel it is right for women and teenagers who have been rapped to not have the option of aborting?
Kenya is a country in the Eastern region of Africa and is home to over 37 million people. Kenyans are predominately Christian and base their abortion laws on their firm belief that life begins at conception. They are totally against it and they stay with their decision. As a Christian, I personally think that abortion is completely wrong because my religion rules says that it is a sin to kill and life begins at conception even though, I also understand why the draft constitution would allow abortion, if the mothers life was at risk. This is because some cases, people do not want to risk their child for an unborn baby.
What about other religions? How do you think they feel when the whole country basses its decision on one religion. What do you think about the Christian’s opinion on abortion? Are they being understanding or not? Why?
In many cases women and teenagers have resulted in back street abortion. This is highly dangerous because the hygiene and the facilities are not well enough. Many women and especially teenagers have died because of unsafe abortion procedures. One third of Kenyan women die each year because of illegal abortions. So many women have died from the injuries or infections caused by the abortions, that hospitals in Kenya, can and do, legally treat patients with post abortion complications. Over 21,000 Kenyan women a year have received such care. Even with the option of post-abortive medical care, 2,600+ women and young girls die each year in Kenya from illegal abortions. That is not including the numbers of females whose death or cause of death was not recorded. Compounding the crisis is the limited availability of contraceptives to the citizens of Kenya for more than a year now. Despite the fact, that when in supply, contraception is given at any health facility free of charge. Clearly, there would be a decline in Kenya’s maternal death rate and in the number of abortions if the people had better access to pregnancy prevention. There is no consideration is given to the mental health of a woman, whose being forced by law to carry a pregnancy to term even in the violent case of rape. Immediately her life is now valued by the unborn offspring of a rapist. It does not matter if she suffers emotional damage, reliving the assault everyday that she has to carry the pregnancy. No thought is given to the life of the victim or their mental and emotional capacity. No mention is made of the unborn that will never be, if she seeks an illegal abortion that makes her infertile.
this is what some politicians and specialist had to say;
"Everyone loves children but when there is a case where the life of the mother is in danger, doctors should be allowed to save the life of the mother," said Raila.
"The church preaches that abortion is killing," he says. "Life begins at conception and we are amazed by those who argue life starts at birth. Honestly, if life starts at birth, then what is it that women carry for nine months? We support a new constitution, which is the aspiration of many Kenyans, but not one that would allow abortion" said one of the church leaders.
"About 30 per cent of women who undergo unsafe abortion suffer uterine perforation, haemorrhage, sepsis, pelvic abscess and shock. Thousands more women suffer complications of high sensitivity over delay in seeking post-abortion care,” said Prof Karanja.sons people abort!
- 21.3% Cannot afford a baby
- 25.5% Want to postpone childbearing
- 14.1% Has relationship problem or partner does not want pregnancy
- 12.2% Too young; parent(s) or other(s) object to pregnancy
- 10.8% Having a child will disrupt education or job
- 7.9% Want no (more) children
- 3.3% Risk to fetal health
- 2.8% Risk to maternal health
- 2.1% Other
- 71% Woman didn't recognize she was pregnant or misjudged gestation
- 33% Woman was afraid to tell her partner or parents
- 24% Woman took time to decide to have an abortion
- 8% Woman waited for her relationship to change
- 8% Someone pressured woman not to have abortion
- 6% Something changed after woman became pregnant
- 6% Woman didn't know timing is important
- 5% Woman didn't know she could get an abortion
- 2% A fetal problem was diagnosed late in pregnancy
- 11% Other
No one did anything to save the health and life of a 14-year-old Kenyan girl, who died after serious injury & infection from an illegal abortion. She lived at home with her very sick mother and her father had recently died. She was the last of her family who could work to support them. Left with no other options, her only way to make money was prostitution. When she became pregnant, she saw no choice but to seek an illegal abortion. By the time, it was obvious she was ill, family and neighbors never sought medical attention, for fear of being arrested. What about her life? She lived from conception to her tragic death at the age of 14. She died trying to provide for and maintain the lives of her family.
In Kenya, it cost her, her own life!
