MSI country director Walter Obita, when Maristopes International (MSI) commemorated its 40 years of service in Kenya. Proto/HANDOUTThe International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics president, Prof Anne Kihara, said Kenya is lagging in implementing many SRHR policies due to a lack of data.
She said it is unfortunate that countries such as Rwanda and Ethiopia have overtaken Kenya and have better SRHR policies.
“I want to stress that local data is very important. Unfortunately, Kenya is not doing a lot of research on SRHR, and that is where we are going wrong,” Kihara said.
“Rwanda is doing a very good job in implementing some of the international treaties it has ratified because of the comprehensive research work it has conducted on the issue.”
Prof Kihara (pictured) spoke when Maristopes International (MSI) commemorated its 40 years of service in Kenya.
“I want to tell Maristopes that 40 is the age of maturity, and they should not slow down on their work despite the many challenges. Many SRHR wins Kenya has had are because of the work you do,” she said.
Early this month, Rwanda lawmakers passed a bill that lowered the legal age to access contraceptives from 18 to 15 without parental consent.
The move seeks to lower the high number of teenage pregnancies.
The legislation allows teens to access the pill and implants, but lawmakers insisted that condoms should be prioritised.
Last year, the country recorded 22,000 unintended teen pregnancies, a number regarded as the country’s highest.
Moyale MP Guyo Jaldesa blamed religious indoctrination on the SRHR pushback Kenya is experiencing.
“It is unfortunate that our religious leaders keep telling us that it is a sin to use contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies or that using contraceptives will take you straight to hell,” he said.
Former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha is on record saying she will not allow contraceptives to be issued to underage girls.
“I am Mama Kanisa’, we have to teach our adolescents to abstain, I believe that with a firm Christian foundation, they will learn to abstain,” she said.
Jaldesa, a gynaecologist and a member of the health committee, called for more education advocacy to change the perceptions.
“We need to ask ourselves, why is it that despite being one of the most religious countries in East Africa, we are still experiencing many teenage pregnancies?” he asked.
A study released by Kenyatta University lecturer Eliphas Gitonga in 2023 says many Somali women take contraceptives secretly due to cultural and religious barriers.
It says the women are not allowed to make decisions about their bodies without the consent of the man.
According to the research, women use the market and the salon as excuses to leave the house to take contraceptives.
“Some of these salon owners are also community health volunteers who are very knowledgeable on contraceptives,” the research says.
“These salonists mostly provide oral contraceptives for the women, who are afraid of keeping them in their homes.”
MSI country director Walter Obita urged the government to eliminate barriers that hinder adolescents and young people from accessing contraceptives and increase domestic funding.
“Together, we look ahead to a future where every Kenyan, regardless of where they live, can access the reproductive health services,” he said.
MSI, which started operations in Kenya in 1985 with a clinic in Nairobi’s Pangani area, has expanded to more than 500 service points – some in public and private hospitals.
