On 18th December 2025, the High Court of Kenya delivered a landmark judgment in Petition No. 428 of 2018, striking down unlawful bans that had restricted public access to reproductive health information and services.
The petition, filed by NAYA Kenya and Jackline Mary Karanja and argued by the Center for Reproductive Rights, challenged three bans imposed in 2018 against Marie Stopes Kenya (MSK). The bans prevented MSK from providing abortion-related services and disseminating information on access to sexual and reproductive health care.
The Court found that the actions of the Director of Medical Services (DMS), the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (KMPDB), and the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) were unlawful and unconstitutional. These institutions had blocked a lawful public awareness campaign and prohibited MSK from offering abortion care, including post-abortion care, an essential emergency service.
The High Court allowed the petition in its entirety, quashing all three decisions for being unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutional. The judgment strengthens the rights to access accurate lifesaving information and services, ensuring that all Kenyans can exercise autonomy over their reproductive health without fear or barriers.
| The Center’s legal team and partners pictured in court during the hearing of Petition No. 428 of 2018. |