21/08/2025
A female police officer attached to the Rapid Deployment Unit has died after a failed abortion procedure in Nairobi, sparking fresh concerns over unsafe medical practices and the accessibility of reproductive healthcare in Kenya.
The officer, who was reportedly on leave, is said to have sought the procedure at an unidentified facility before being rushed in critical condition to a private hospital in Kawangware.
Medical staff at the hospital confirmed she had succumbed to excessive bleeding upon arrival.Preliminary investigations indicate that the officer may have undergone an unsafe termination that triggered fatal complications.
Authorities have since arrested a nurse and a driver believed to have facilitated the illegal procedure.
The suspects are currently being held as detectives work to establish whether the operation was carried out in an unlicensed clinic.
Sources close to the investigation revealed that the officer was based in Embakasi and had kept the pregnancy and abortion attempt private.
Her death has since raised public concern, especially within law enforcement circles, with colleagues expressing shock over the tragic turn of events.
The body has been moved to the city mortuary, where a postmortem is expected to confirm the exact cause of death.
This incident has once again brought to the forefront Kenya’s restrictive abortion laws and the dangers faced by women seeking reproductive health services outside regulated environments.
While abortion is legally permitted under specific conditions, many women continue to seek services in unsafe settings due to stigma, fear, or lack of access to proper medical care.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing and charges may soon be filed against the arrested suspects.