Even with growing awareness and availability of modern abortion methods in Kenya, a significant number of women continue to rely on unsafe and often dangerous procedures highlighting persistent gaps in reproductive healthcare access, stigma, and trust in the system.
A newly released 2025 policy brief, Exploring the Lived Experiences of Women Who Have Had Abortions in Kenya, reveals that of the estimated 792,694 induced abortions that occurred in 2023, nearly one in four women resorted to traditional methods, including herbal concoctions, physical manipulation, or toxic substances.
The data, based on a national survey by the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC), paints a troubling picture: while 72 percent of women used WHO-recommended medication abortion techniques, 27 percent still opted for risky traditional practices, and 8 percent turned to outright harmful methods like inserting objects or drinking toxic liquids.
“These numbers show that access to medication alone isn’t enough,” the report warns. “Cultural beliefs, misinformation, and fear of judgment continue to drive women even those who know safer alternatives toward risky options.”
The findings also challenge long-standing assumptions about who is most likely to seek an abortion. Contrary to the belief that uneducated or adolescent girls dominate abortion statistics, the study shows that the majority of women who had abortions in 2023 were aged 25–34, already had children, and had completed secondary school or higher.
“While many assume that abortion is an issue affecting mostly young or uneducated women, our data shows the opposite,” the brief states. In fact, women with no formal education accounted for just 3 percent of cases, while those with secondary education or higher made up 56 percent.
This disconnect between increased educational attainment and continued use of unsafe methods underscores the complexity of abortion decisions in Kenya. The sharp rise in total abortion numbers, nearly doubling from 400,000 in 2013 to almost 800,000 in 2023, signals not only increased need, but also deeper systemic issues in reproductive health support and services.
As Kenya grapples with the implications of this data, experts say solutions must go beyond clinical access. They must address stigma, improve counseling and information services, and ensure that all women regardless of background feel safe seeking the care they need.
