In Kibera, one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements, community workers responsible for clearing drainage channels say they have repeatedly found abandoned fetal remains. Their accounts have drawn renewed attention to unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortion and the difficulties girls and women face when seeking healthcare.

According to an article published by Ghetto Radio Kenya on 12 October 2026, local advocates identify stigma, poverty, sexual exploitation and limited reproductive health information as factors contributing to the situation. They warn that fear of judgement from families and communities can prevent girls from seeking help in time.

Agnes Odero, a safe abortion advocate in Kibera, says some girls attempt to manage unintended pregnancies without medical support because they are afraid or lack reliable information. She argues that condemnation and shame can discourage them from speaking openly and seeking healthcare.

Doris Kathia, a representative of the community-based organisation Raise Your Voice, highlights the connection between economic vulnerability and reproductive health risks. Some girls engage in transactional sex to meet basic needs or support their families. When an unintended pregnancy occurs, they may face family rejection, a lack of money for medical services and uncertainty about where to seek assistance.

In Kenya, Article 26(4) of the Constitution permits abortion in specified circumstances, including when, in the opinion of a trained health professional, emergency treatment is needed, the life or health of the pregnant woman is in danger, or abortion is permitted by another written law. The Health Act of 2017 also recognises rights related to reproductive healthcare.

However, the existence of a legal framework does not automatically guarantee access to services. Community representatives say personal biases, financial barriers and a lack of clear information can prevent young people from obtaining the care they need. They are calling on authorities to implement existing laws and ensure access to accurate information and healthcare without discrimination.

The figures cited in the article illustrate the scale of the problem. In an October 2023 policy brief, the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) estimated that complications associated with unsafe abortion cause approximately 2,600 deaths among women and girls in Kenya each year. This is an estimate based on earlier research, not a count of individually recorded deaths in every year.

A national study published in May 2025 by Kenya’s Ministry of Health, APHRC and the Guttmacher Institute estimated that 792,694 induced abortions occurred in the country in 2023. The study also found that only 18% of primary-level facilities and 24% of referral-level facilities met the standards for providing post-abortion care.

These findings show that the challenge extends beyond the existence of medical services to their quality, availability and affordability. Contraceptive information, youth-friendly reproductive healthcare and timely post-abortion care are all important parts of an effective response.

For girls and women in Kibera, access to accurate information, respectful healthcare professionals and affordable services can make the difference between receiving timely care and experiencing preventable complications. Addressing stigma and turning legal protections into accessible services remain important challenges for Kenya’s healthcare system.

Original source: Ghetto Radio Kenya, “Kibera’s Foetuses Expose Kenya’s Dangerous Abortion Gap”.