- Abortion legal status
- Illegal
- Emergency number
- 999
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: travel.gc.ca, way4i.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- Save 1195 in your phone — it's Kenya's free, 24/7 national GBV helpline and can connect you to police, medical care, or a safe space.
- GVRC at Nairobi Women's Hospital (Kilimani) provides completely free emergency care for assault survivors, including HIV PEP and emergency contraception, and can help with police reporting — go within 72 hours if possible for the best medical options.
- Birth control pills and emergency contraception are sold over the counter at any pharmacy in Nairobi without a prescription; IUDs and implants require a clinic visit (Marie Stopes Kenya, toll-free 0800 720005, is a reliable low-cost option).
- Abortion is heavily restricted in Kenya and only legal in narrow circumstances — this is unrelated to contraception access but worth knowing given the connected topic of reproductive health.
- Licensed online pharmacies (e.g., MYDAWA, Kasha) deliver contraceptives discreetly within Nairobi, which can be useful if you'd rather not visit a physical pharmacy.
- Abortion is criminalized under Kenya's Penal Code except when a trained health professional determines it is needed for emergency treatment or because the mother's life or health is at risk, or in cases of rape — there is no fixed legal abortion time limit, it's a clinical judgment call.
- If you experience pregnancy complications or are a victim of sexual assault while in Nairobi, going to an established hospital (Nairobi Hospital, Aga Khan University Hospital) is safer and more likely to be handled within the legal exception than seeking an informal or unlicensed provider.
- Post-abortion complication care is provided free in Kenyan public hospitals regardless of the circumstances of the abortion, so seeking emergency treatment after any abortion-related complication will not automatically expose you to prosecution.
- Many named OBGYN clinics operate out of shared medical centers in Parklands, Kilimani, and Milimani/Upper Hill — call ahead, as some see patients only on specific days or require appointments.
- Always confirm directly with a clinic whether they accept your travel/health insurance, as this varies by provider and plan.
Street, Night and Taxi Safety
Street Harassment
Government travel advisories note that women travelling alone in Kenya may face verbal harassment and unwanted attention, with incidents of sexual assault reported in urban centers including Nairobi. One safety resource focused on solo female travelers rates harassment risk as high and notes that more than half of women surveyed have witnessed harassment on public transport, particularly on crowded matatus (minibuses).
Walking Alone at Night
Multiple sources advise against walking alone after dark anywhere in Nairobi, including in upscale neighborhoods, with risk described as increasing significantly once the sun goes down. The Canadian government advisory specifically flags increased caution in and around the Central Business District, Eastleigh, Pangani, Mathare, and Kibera.
Taxis and Ride-hailing
Safety guides consistently recommend using ride-hailing apps such as Uber, Bolt, or Little Cab, or a hotel-arranged driver, rather than hailing an unlicensed taxi or matatu, since registered rides offer better accountability and GPS tracking. However, the Canadian government advisory warns that express kidnappings near hotels and transport hubs have occurred, where victims are taken from the street or a taxi and forced to withdraw cash from an ATM, and notes this type of crime is sometimes committed by taxi or ride-share drivers themselves, so sharing trip details and confirming vehicle details before getting in is advised.
Nightlife Precautions
Guides note that nightlife areas like Westlands can be enjoyable but that robbery, drink spiking, harassment, and problems finding a safe ride home are more likely late at night, so watching drinks, going out with trusted people, and leaving by secure transport rather than walking is recommended. Women are also advised to avoid getting too intoxicated and to leave quickly if they feel uncomfortable in a crowded bar or club setting.
General Precautions
Common advice includes keeping phones out of sight (especially in stationary traffic, where phones can be grabbed through a window), avoiding flashy jewelry, keeping vehicle windows closed in traffic jams, and dressing modestly outside tourist-oriented areas to reduce unwanted attention. Travelers are also told not to accept transportation offers or help from strangers, including people who approach online.
Abortion Law And OB-GYN
- Legal Status
- illegal
Legal Framework
- Summary
- Kenya's Penal Code (Sections 158-160) criminalizes procuring or attempting to procure an abortion, with penalties of up to 14 years imprisonment for a provider and up to 7 years for the pregnant woman herself. However, Article 26(4) of the 2010 Constitution creates a narrow exception.
- Landmark Case
- In March 2022 the High Court in Malindi (the 'PAK' case, PAK and Salim Mohammed v. Attorney General) ruled that safe abortion care is a fundamental right under the Constitution and that arresting or prosecuting patients and providers acting within Article 26(4) is unlawful. The ruling directed Parliament to enact implementing legislation. This decision is under appeal, and Kenya still lacks a comprehensive abortion statute, which creates what legal advocates describe as ambiguity, confusion, and stigma around who can legally provide or receive care.
- Abortion Time Limits
- There is no specific pregnancy-week cutoff written into Kenyan law. Legality under the constitutional exception depends on a trained health professional's clinical judgment about emergency need or danger to life/health, not on a fixed number of weeks.
- Post Abortion Care
- Post-abortion care (treatment for complications regardless of how the abortion occurred) is treated as routine maternity care and is provided free of charge in public health facilities in Kenya.
- Enforcement Reality
- In practice, law enforcement officers have used Section 158 of the Penal Code to harass, threaten, and extort medical providers even in cases where a woman legally qualifies for care under Article 26(4), making many providers reluctant to offer the service at all.
- Constitutional Exception
- Article 26(4) of the Constitution states that abortion is not permitted unless, in the opinion of a trained health professional, there is need for emergency treatment, the life or health of the mother is in danger, or it is permitted by another written law.
- Rape And Sexual Violence Exception
- A June 2019 Supreme Court ruling clarified that pregnancies resulting from rape can be terminated by qualified health professionals, and the Ministry of Health's 2014 National Guidelines on Management of Sexual Violence allow rape survivors safe termination.
Named OB-GYN Providers In Nairobi
The Nairobi Hospital – Gynaecology Clinic
- Area
- Argwings Kodhek Road, Milimani (near CBD/Upper Hill)
- Type
- Hospital department
- Notes
- Full-service hospital-based gynaecology clinic offering reproductive health treatment and family planning services; also has a recognized Gender-Based Violence Recovery unit relevant to sexual assault care.
Aga Khan University Hospital – Obstetrics & Gynaecology Department
- Area
- 3rd Parklands Avenue, Limuru Road, Parklands
- Type
- Hospital department
- Notes
- Large consultant-led OBGYN department with multiple named specialists covering fertility, foetal medicine, gynae-oncology, laparoscopic surgery and urogynaecology.
LaFemme Healthcare Clinic
- Area
- Green House Mall, Ngong Road, Kilimani
- Type
- Private specialist clinic
- Notes
- Women's healthcare practice founded by two OB/GYNs offering gynaecology, obstetric and related pediatric services.
Velvet Women and Children's Clinic (Dr Alex Bosire)
- Area
- Anderson Medical Center, Argwings Kodhek Road (Nairobi Hospital campus), Milimani
- Type
- Private specialist clinic
- Notes
- OB/GYN and paediatric practice; patient reviews specifically reference Dr Bosire's gynaecology consultations.
Dr Stephen Maina
- Area
- Lumen Square, Parklands (opposite M.P. Shah Hospital)
- Type
- Independent OB/GYN practice
- Notes
- Consultant obstetrician-gynaecologist with admitting rights at Aga Khan, M.P. Shah, Mater, Avenue, Nairobi Hospital, Metropolitan and Nairobi Women's Hospital; practice covers general gynaecology, obstetrics, fibroids and infertility.
Dr Yamal Patel
- Area
- 3rd Parklands Avenue, Parklands
- Type
- Independent OB/GYN practice
- Notes
- Hysteroscopic and laparoscopic surgeon specializing in endometriosis and adenomyosis; runs Kenya's first dedicated Endometriosis Treatment Center.
Access Routes For Nomads And Residents
- Legal access is realistically limited to cases a licensed doctor certifies as medically necessary (danger to life/health) or resulting from sexual assault; this determination is made hospital-side, not via a public clinic or pharmacy route.
- Rape/sexual assault survivors should go to a hospital with a Gender-Based Violence Recovery Centre or similar unit (e.g. the one at Nairobi Hospital) as soon as possible, both for post-exposure prophylaxis and to formally document eligibility for legal termination under the MoH sexual violence guidelines.
- Self-managed abortion, informal pill purchases, or unlicensed 'clinics' outside the constitutional exception remain criminal offenses and carry real safety risk: Kenya records an estimated 2,600 deaths and 21,000 hospitalizations annually from unsafe abortion.
- Because enforcement has historically targeted both patients and providers even in legally-eligible cases, foreign visitors facing a genuine medical emergency should seek care at an established private hospital (e.g. Aga Khan University Hospital, The Nairobi Hospital) rather than an unverified private clinic, and should expect the process to be handled cautiously and confidentially by staff.
- This entry provides legal-status and access-route information only; per standard practice for restricted-access care, no pricing or sourcing/procurement details are included.
Assault Resources
- Reporting Note
- Survivors have the right to report an assault to the police, and centres like GVRC can assist with this process. It's recommended to seek medical care as soon as possible (ideally within 72 hours) for PEP and emergency contraception access, and to avoid washing or changing clothes beforehand if planning to pursue a medical-legal exam, though seeking care takes priority over evidence preservation.
Key Services
Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC), Nairobi Women's Hospital
- Phone
- 0719 638 006 / 0709 667 000
- Cost
- Free
- Type
- Hospital-based sexual assault recovery centre
- Location
- Adlife Plaza, 4th Floor, Ring Road & Chania Avenue Junction, Kilimani (head office); additional branches at Adams and Hurlingham within Nairobi County
- Services
- Free medical treatment and psychosocial support for survivors of sexual, physical, psychological or emotional violence, including HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) within 72 hours, emergency contraception, Hepatitis B vaccination, counseling, and short-term shelter referral. Also assists survivors who wish to report to police.
- Availability
- 24/7
Kenyatta National Hospital Gender-Based Violence Recovery Centre (GBVRC)
- Type
- Public hospital-based recovery centre
- Location
- Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi
- Services
- Post-rape care, medical examination and treatment for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
Lavender House Clinic (MSF)
- Phone
- 020 2400330
- Type
- NGO-run sexual and gender-based violence clinic
- Location
- Mathare, Nairobi
- Services
- Medical and psychosocial support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, run by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).
Wangu Kanja Foundation
- Type
- Survivor-led NGO helpline
- Services
- Helpline connecting rape survivors to healthcare workers and paralegals to navigate reporting and medical procedures.
National Helpline
- Phone
- 1195
- Cost
- Free (toll-free)
- Name
- 1195 National GBV Toll-Free Helpline
- Operator
- Healthcare Assistance Kenya (HAK)
- Availability
- 24/7
- Description
- Kenya's national toll-free helpline for gender-based violence, covering rape, defilement, physical assault and FGM. Counselors stay on the line with callers until police, ambulance, or a child protection officer arrives, and can arrange confidential referrals for medical and psychosocial follow-up.
Contraception Access
- Overview
- Contraception is legal and widely available in Kenya. Birth control pills can be purchased over the counter at pharmacies without a prescription, while IUDs and implants require insertion at a clinic or hospital such as Marie Stopes Kenya or Nairobi Women's Hospital. Emergency contraception is sold at pharmacies and via licensed online pharmacies without a prescription.
- Legal Status
- Fully legal and regulated
Methods
IUD
- Availability
- Available through clinics and hospitals (e.g., Marie Stopes Kenya, Nairobi Women's Hospital); not sold over the counter and requires insertion by a trained provider
- Pricing Note
- No specific current price was found in available sources; cost depends on provider and IUD type. Marie Stopes Kenya (toll-free 0800 720005) is a low-cost provider option worth contacting directly for current pricing.
Implant
- Availability
- Available through clinics and hospitals; common brands in Kenya include Implanon, Jadelle and Norplant, inserted by a trained provider
- Pricing Note
- No specific current price was found in available sources; contact Marie Stopes Kenya or a private clinic for current rates.
Emergency Contraception
- Availability
- Over-the-counter at pharmacies and licensed online pharmacies (e.g., MYDAWA, Kasha), no prescription required
- Price Caveat
- This price reflects an older, previously published reference point for a basic levonorgestrel pack; actual shelf price can vary by pharmacy and brand and may now be somewhat higher.
- Also Free Via
- GVRC and public hospital GBV recovery centres provide emergency contraception free of charge to assault survivors as part of post-rape care.
- Common Brands
- Postinor-2 (levonorgestrel) is the most widely used brand; other brands available include ECee-2, Emcon, Truston-2 and Levo-72
- Price Reference
- KES 100
- Effectiveness Window
- Most effective within 72 hours of unprotected sex, with some effect up to 120 hours; sooner is better
Oral Contraceptive Pill
- Availability
- Over-the-counter at pharmacies, no prescription required
- Common Brands
- Microgynon and other combined oral contraceptive brands are commonly stocked
- Pricing Note
- Specific current retail pricing for standard combined pill packs was not confirmed in available sources; expect a modest per-pack cost typical of pharmacy-dispensed generics.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this women's health & safety research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Nairobi
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.