From Reproductive Rights to Sexual Rights: Contesting Abortion Politics in Kenya, 1963-2015

Abstract

The abortion debate in Kenya has been a contentious issue for decades, with the recent lifting of a ban on Marie Stopes, a global charity offering abortion services, highlighting its urgency. This paper examines how transnational advocacy and local narratives have shaped the discourse around legalizing safe abortion in Kenya. It explores the historical trajectory of this struggle, from the post-independence period to international milestones such as the 1975 International Decade for Women, the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, the Beijing Plus 5 conference, and the Maputo Protocol. The analysis underscores the role of foreign influence, particularly from Britain, the USA, and Scandinavian nations, in introducing new models of sexual governance and nationalism. By employing a multidisciplinary approach, this study investigates how abortion discourses have been constructed, contested, and transformed, navigating the tensions between tradition and modernity. The findings argue that external advocacy and local efforts have been pivotal in advancing human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Kenya.