As a matter of  fact, the  issue of  “abortion  in  Kenya”_a termination  of  pregnancy  for one  reason or another is no longer  a taboo  subject  amongst  the Kenyan  communities as  it was  before  the  new  government  came  in.

The  parents, daughters,  civil  societies, and  others who have  shown  some  concern  now  speak  up  their  minds without  fear  of  retribution  from  any  quarter in the  government.

A  keen  observation  of  citizens’  attitude towards this issue confirms that  there  is  no  going  back  on this  matter and  indeed  they  are  making  gains.

The  matter of  legalizing  abortion in Kenya  for  the sake of  a  girl and  other  adult women  with  health  complications who cannot  enjoy a  safe  birth and  motherhood  is  long  overdue. This  should  be allowed  quickly  for the  poor girl  to  access  uninterrupted  education and  other  opportunities. The  adult  woman  also  suffering  a  disease  can  take  a break.

It  is  no longer  a  surprise  to see  the  supporters  of  abolition  of  abortion  law doing  battles  with  police  on  the  streets  of  many  urban  centers and  they  have  good  reasons why  they  are  making  these  demands  anyway.

Here  is  how  one  parent a Mr  Momanyi, a retired  senior  police  officer, says,”Give  our  daughters and  other  adult  women who  suffer  some  disease  a  choice, at  least  in  case  of  rape or incest, one  would  make  up  her  mind  on  what  to  do, but not the  other  way  round”,

This  matter  is not  without its  opponents. The  mainstream  churches- Catholic and Protestant- have  pitted  themselves against some  Evangelical  churches and  other  sects to  block  the legalization  of  abortion.

The  Muslims  have not  also  given this issue a  wide berth  as is known  of  their old  slogan,” Allah  has  forbidden killings of  human beings,”

This amounts to a  slap in  the  face  of  a  government  that has  agreed to abolish  abortion  law as they  proposed in  the  constitutional  review  process  document to be  voted on  in  November,2005.

In  an interview with  Mr.  Mogaka a working nursing  officer  with  a government  institution in coast region had this to say; “The  government should allow abortion in order to expose  teenage girls and others  affected to some safe  procedures and  operations to avoid cares deaths,”

It is my  considered  opinion that if the government would allow “abortion” today this move would be in the best interests of the nation as a whole as a level playing field would be realized by many.

The authorities in the ministry of Health in this country have  conceded to a lack of sufficient and consistent supply of contraceptives throughout the  country any time.

What does this amount to? It simply means using personal resources to keep up with the rest of  the citizens who can afford these facilities This number would be negligible by any guess.

A  survey  of expert opinions carried out in the country recently reveals credible information and the extent of a  shift in opinions expressed in favor of abolition of law of abortion.

Mr. Peter Gichangi, a senior lecturer in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Nairobi, told journalists,” We are using the study as a tool to market our case, to  advocate for changes,” 

It is no wonder that his sentiments are no different from the rest of the society elites who, along with activists, are fighting a winning war.

Adding her voice also is the vice president for Africa” Inter-press news agency’(ipas),Eunice Brookman Amissa  who said, “We can not sit on fence while women and young girls continue to die from a problem that can be prevented. Despite  the restrictive laws in Kenya unsafe abortion will continue to happen. Unless we take steps to address the problem, as has been done in other countries,”

A  research  carried out as at May 6, 2005 paints a grim  picture  of  the  situation on the ground. It reads in part; Any one year sees 300,000 abortions performed, An  estimated  20,000 women/ girls get hospitalized each  year with related complications, A daily “abortion rate” of about 800 undergo medical  procedures (illegal),and about 26,000 women die each  year.

This is not a report that can be slighted as a passing cloud. It carries with it heavy suggestions that deserve  urgent attention from a nation that is almost breaking. And the earlier the problem can be  addressed, the better  for  Kenyan  citizens in particular and the word at large.