Nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri has called on Kenyans to engage actively in the debate about contraceptives in order to reduce unplanned pregnancies.
The senator said an open discussion on contraceptives would highly benefit the health sector and young women.
He noted it would help to reduce the cases of abortions that are acquired illegally by young mothers who are afraid of being shunned.
“My point of view is not castigating especially when the young people get pregnant because when you do that then you’re going to encourage them to undertake abortions because they fear how they are going to be perceived by the society,” Okenyuri said.
She added that the outlook on young pregnancies needs to be decriminalised in order for the country to reduce the number of maternal deaths being reported all around the country.
“When the discussion about contraceptives comes about, Kenyans are generally a conservative community and funding on reproductive health comes with conditions,” she said.
“We need to make the issue of young people getting pregnant not look like it's criminal, if you’ve gotten pregnant you can deliver and celebrate your bundle of joy.
"But if there is something else you can do to avoid getting pregnant we have the contraceptives. We’re encouraging people who are within that age to embrace those methods.”
