Wamuzi News Ke
In a move that has ignited global outrage, the U.S. government has destroyed contraceptives worth over $9.7 million (approximately KSh 1.25 billion), originally intended to reach women and girls in Kenya and four additional African nations. The destruction, confirmed by the U.S. State Department, has cut access to essential reproductive healthcare for more than 1.4 million individuals.
The stockpile included fully packaged implants, injectable contraceptives, pills, and intrauterine devices with expiry dates stretching between 2027 and 2029. These supplies—destined for Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, and Mali—were ready for distribution when the decision to incinerate them was made.
Humanitarian organizations, including the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), offered to distribute the materials at no cost to U.S. taxpayers. Their proposal was rebuffed due to legal restrictions banning aid to agencies associated with abortion services. As a result, the supplies were shipped to France to be burned—a process that will cost U.S. taxpayers an additional $167,000.
Reproductive health advocates warn the repercussions will be devastating. Loss of these contraceptives could lead to an estimated 174,000 unintended pregnancies and 56,000 unsafe abortions across the affected countries.
In Kenya specifically, the blow is severe. Over 108,000 women will miss out on access to contraceptive implants just as national shortages have surged. Experts point out that nearly one in five girls aged 15 to 19 in the country is already pregnant or has given birth. The void left by the destroyed supplies threatens to reverse gains in maternal health and intensify a growing family planning crisis.
With these losses compounding existing gaps—Kenya’s family planning programme already suffers a 46% funding shortfall—the fallout could extend far beyond immediate healthcare disruptions. Public health experts warn maternal mortality could rise dramatically as women turn to unsafe alternatives.
