Lawsuit filed over Marie Stopes ban

The protracted battle that saw Marie Stopes barred from offering any abortion services in Kenya is now before the courts. This after a lobby group challenged the decision by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board’s and the government to ban it from offering any form of abortion services in all its 23 facilities. Network for Adolescents and Youth of Africa alongside activist Jackline Mary Karanja have sued the Attorney-General, Health Minister, director of medical services, the medical board and the Kenya Film Classification Board. They claim the ban which took effect on 14 November, was issued as a result of misinformation and prevents females from accessing safe abortion services. ‘Pending the hearing and determination of this case, a conservatory order (must) be issued staying the ruling by the medical board,’ said lawyers Martin Onyango and Sofia Rajab-Leteipan.