TRUMP’s POSITION ON ABORTION WILL LEAD TO DEATH OF OVER 10,000 KENYAN WOMEN/GIRLS BETWEEN 2016 & 2020

Based on the fact that 49% of all pregnancies in Kenya are unintended, in 2012 alone, up to 48 per 1000 women aged 15 to 49 having procured abortion; highlighting financial, social, cultural and medical issues as motivational predisposing factors. In a bid to reduce unintended pregnancies, contraceptives (including condoms) have been disseminated to all ages for dual protection, that is, protect oneself and partners from STI/HIV infection and unplanned pregnancies – thanks to USAID funded projects.

However, 100% access and utilization of condoms by many has been curtailed by (i) ‘socio-economic stigma’ and (ii) safety levels of male condoms. The ‘socio-economic stigma’ weighs more on opportunity cost to utilize it. For instance, the cost of a condom in Kisumu (or any other urban town) could be as low as Ksh 20 (USD 0.2), as opposed to the cost at island communities of Lake Victoria, which will require a young man (for example) to travel for three hours on a motor bike (cost Ksh 200 on way) to buy a condom worth Ksh 40 (USD 0.4 - due to additional cost in ferrying it to the shop based at the beach) – basic probability will place usage of condoms highest where it is cheapest as opposed to the very expensive areas… if this is so, could this be a reason why young people from island communities of Lake Victoria are leading in pregnancies and HIV infections? The safety levels of male condoms is pegged on ONLY IF used CORRECTLY and CONSISTENTLY to achieve 98% effectiveness; meaning for every 100 sexual intercourse with male condoms used ‘correctly and consistently’ there are 2 women who will for sure fall pregnant – with unplanned for pregnancies.

Instinctively, after discovering that one has unintended pregnancy, a young woman/girl wishes to protect herself from societal persecution processes – which includes mass lunching on social media. Many have testified that for the fear of the constitution, they would rather consult quacks to help the procure abortions – as opposed to landing in jail. As much as the 2010 constitution relaxes the core conditions which required that abortion to be done after certification by three doctors including a psychiatrist, Article 26(4) states ‘Abortion is not permitted unless, in the opinion of a trained health professional, there is need for emergency treatment, or the life or health of the mother is in danger, or if permitted by any other written law.’ In my view, ‘life being in danger’ can mean ‘societal persecution processes’ which is the first inhuman experience young women go through – this is followed by medical conditions that reduced probability of safe birth at early years on her life. In this sense, over 400,000 abortions were recorded in 2012 alone. It is important to note that with about 300,000 abortions done in Kenya every year, 2500 women/girls die of it.

Today (9th November 2016), America has voted in Trump, who categorically said “I’m totally against abortion…” during a debate at the University of Houston. I am however please by his re-conciliatory acceptance speech and hope that he will reconsider the hundreds of lives being lost due to such strong positions (totally against abortion). Considering the fact that he has 4 years to go till next primaries, he can help save lives of 10,000 Kenyan women/girls by repealing the Helms Amendment of 1973, which states “No foreign assistance funds may be used to pay for the performance of abortion as a method of family planning or to motivate or coerce any person to practice abortions.” My argument is, while USAID helps in pushing the family planning with an aim to improve livelihood of a people, the hand that giveth the capability (through distribution of condoms) should not take away a dire need of a woman of girl who has had unintended pregnancy through condom burst (or reduced efficacy of the 2%) to stop the growth of the pregnancy safely. I use the word safely because many Kenyan women often abort using unsafe procedures and unqualified people.

Revoking the Helms Amendment of 1973 is critical in changing abortion laws in Kenya (and largely Africa), leading to saving of lives. I hope Trump can change his position on being “…totally against abortion…”