Why Esther Passaris Wants Kenyan Women Allowed to Procure Abortion at Will

Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has called for the legalization of abortion in Kenya.

Speaking during the 9th Africa Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, which is ongoing at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Passaris said Kenyan women should be allowed to terminate pregnancies at will. 

She argued that most Kenyan women, especially those living in the slums, use abortion as a family planning method but the fact that abortion is illegal in the country means they do it unsafely, leading to deaths that can be avoided and inhumane disposal of fetuses.

"They should not give birth to children to suffer. They should not have children they cannot take care of," said Passaris.

She added: "I'm for pro-choice. Let the women procure abortion early in pregnancy if they don't want to have the child."