Police in Kenya have announced that a man will face murder charges after his wife died from a botched abortion that he assisted in procuring. The suspect, along with two suspected unlicensed doctors who performed the operation, were arrested and will be arraigned in court. The investigation was launched by detectives from the DCI Starehe after the lifeless body of the middle-aged woman was discovered wrapped in a white bedsheet and dumped in a storm water tunnel near a Shell petrol station along Outering Road on New Year’s Eve.
Preliminary findings suggest that the woman may have been murdered at another location and her body dumped at the scene by unknown individuals. On Monday, the officers received information that the body had been disposed at the scene following a failed abortion procedure conducted by a suspected unlicensed doctor at a clinic in Mathare Area 1, in consultation with another unlicensed doctor in Dandora Phase 4. When the patient developed complications, the suspects attempted to transfer her to a backstreet clinic in Kiambu, but she died on the way. In an attempt to cover their tracks, the suspects allegedly dumped the body in the storm water tunnel.
This tragic incident is just one of many that have occurred in the country due to the lack of access to safe and legal abortion services. There have been calls to legalize abortion in order to ensure that individuals seeking the procedure have access to regulated and safe medical care. Currently, abortion is only allowed in the country if the life or health of the mother is at risk, but advocates argue that this should be expanded to include other circumstances, such as cases of rape or incest.
However, there are also those who are opposed to the legalization of abortion in Kenya. Some argue that it goes against the values and beliefs of many people in the country, who view it as a moral issue. Some argue that the termination of a pregnancy goes against the teachings of their religion, and that it is a sin to end the life of an unborn child.
Others argue that the focus should be on preventing unintended pregnancies rather than providing access to abortion services. This could be achieved through education and access to contraception, rather than making abortion more widely available. There are also concerns about the potential risks and complications associated with abortion, particularly when it is performed by unlicensed practitioners or in unsanitary conditions. Legalizing abortion could increase the risk of harm to individuals seeking the procedure.
Overall, the debate over the legalization of abortion in Kenya is a complex and sensitive issue. While there are valid arguments on both sides, it is important for the government to consider the impact that the current laws have on the lives and health of its citizens, as well as the potential risks and benefits of changing them.
