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Kenya: Marie Stopes International

Question for Department for International Development

UIN HL12251, tabled on 12 December 2018

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (1) the government of Kenya, and (2) Marie Stopes International Kenya about the announcement by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board that Marie Stopes has been (a) directed immediately to cease offering any form of abortion services in all its facilities in Kenya, (b) instructed to review its existing Guidelines for Reproductive Health Services to ensure conformity with the law, and (c) admonished for contravening the Medical Practitioners and Dentists (Practitioners and Health Facilities) (Advertising) Rules 2016; and whether they intend to halt any funding provided to Marie Stopes International Kenya through Official Development Assistance as a result of that announcement.

Answered on

20 December 2018

The British High Commissioner to Kenya has requested a meeting with the Kenya Cabinet Secretary of Health alongside representatives from a number of other governments, to discuss the ban. The Cabinet Secretary has indicated she will convene a meeting once an internal investigation into Marie Stopes Kenya’s activities reports to her office in December. DFID Kenya officials met the Country Director of Marie Stopes Kenya at the end of November to discuss the matter. DFID Kenya does not currently fund Marie Stopes Kenya.