Marie Stopes Kenya Country Director Walter Obita has called on the government to increase domestic funding for contraceptives and eliminate policy barriers that prevent adolescents and young people from accessing reproductive health services.
“Together, we look ahead to a future where every Kenyan, regardless of who they are or where they live, can access reproductive health services,” Obita said.
Speaking as the organisation marked 40 years of operations in Kenya on Monday, Obita noted that Marie Stopes International has helped avert more than 2.5 million unintended pregnancies since its inception.
“We know this because of the number of contraceptives that we are giving out to the women and the men in hospitals,” he said.
The organisation operates over 500 service points nationwide and has provided more than one million post-abortion care and safe abortion services.
In 2024 alone, Marie Stopes Kenya says it averted 528,000 unintended pregnancies, prevented an estimated 1,500 maternal deaths, and served over 763,000 clients.
The organisation measures these outcomes through a scientific model that tracks client visits and the contraceptives issued.
Obita credited the results to partnerships with the Ministry of Health, county governments, and private clinics.
He highlighted a growing acceptance of permanent family planning methods such as vasectomies and bilateral tubal ligations.
“In 2024 alone, we provided 2,493 vasectomies and tubal ligations. Demand for these services continues to grow, and we are proud to have trained healthcare providers who offer them in public facilities,” he said.
Marie Stopes Kenya has also partnered with 60 private clinics to expand access to reproductive health care.
According to Obita, providing safe, respectful, and compassionate services helps reduce the risks associated with unsafe abortions and protects the dignity and health of women and girls.
