Married women account for 80 percent of all reported abortion cases in the country. A report by the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), released Friday, May, 2 2025, estimates that at least 792,694 induced abortions took place in Kenya in 2023.

The primary reasons cited are a lack of desire to have more children, financial pressures, and the pursuit of career goals. 

In the survey, done in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Guttmacher Institute shows Nairobi and Central region have the highest rate of induced abortions in the country.

The report shows Nairobi and Central region recorded 234,125 induced abortions in 2023. This is followed by Nyanza and Western region with 222,196 induced abortions in 2023. The Rift Valley region had 153,314 cases, 108,910 in Eastern region and 74,150 cases in Coast and North Eastern regions. Nationality, it is estimated that there was a total of 792,694 induced abortions in Kenya in 2023.

The report also shows women aged 24 to 34 accounted for the largest share of abortions at 41.8%, followed by those over 35% and adolescents under 20%.

According to the report in that year, some 2.8 million pregnancies were reported; of those, 2.4 million pregnancies were unintended.

The report dubbed ”Incidence of Induced Abortions and the Severity of Abortions Related Complications in Kenya”, shows 78.6% of the estimated 792,694 induced abortions, occurred among married women.

Further details show that the vast majority of women obtaining abortions in Kenya identify as Christian, approximately 90.9% of all cases, while Muslim women account for 9.1%. The number of abortions documented in 2023, significantly increased from 464, 690 recorded in 2012.

In the study, respective methods were used to procure abortions, among them Manual vacuum aspiration, medication abortion, traditional method where women use herbs, teas and massage.

Harmful methods were also used namely inserting something sharp in the vagina, drinking caustic substance and non-recommended dose, or use of unknown and other pills.

Some women also opted for non-harmful methods like coca cola, alcohol and concentrated juice.

A bigger percentage of women picked medical abortions after unsuccessfully trying other pregnancy termination methods.

“Most women are using medication abortion because it provides a lot of secrecy, but sometimes they begin with harmful methods, they fail leading them to medication abortion,’ said Juma, noting that medication is majorly use of tablets bought in chemists, or offered in a some hospitals.

In Kenya, abortion is legally restricted and only permitted if, in the opinion of a trained health professional, there is a need for emergency treatment, the life or health of the mother is in danger, or if permitted by any other written law.