Anti-abortion crusader

Nairobi; Kenya: Youthful Esther Kinuthia loves life and eats it with a big spoon. This is understandable because she is only 22 years old and excited about growing up and the opportunities it presents. But Esther is no ordinary youngster. She is on a mission to restore hope to young mothers through her ambitious pro-life movement. At only 22 years, Esther Kinuthia seems to be going places. She is fast becoming a household name as she continues to rise to stardom.

Today, she calls herself Miss Independent — a title that has become her brand. And as she traverses every corner of the country and beyond, her title is her instrument.

“Miss Independent is a representation of a Kenyan youth that is ready to accomplish her goals without waiting to be spoon fed, or waiting for a connection or for someone to make life better. Miss Independent is a symbol of ambition, courage and passion,” says a cheery Esther.

Esther is no doubt a phenomenal woman who best describes herself as someone who is passionate about life.

“I crack jokes a lot, but I laugh a lot more. I am silently very ambitious. I have been told I have a really big heart as well,” she says with a wide grin.

She is also very personable, and does not shy from opening up about her childhood, her venture into blogging and why she started the Pro-Life Movement Kenya.

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CAPTURED THE HEARTBEATS

Her campaign, Pro-Life Movement Kenya is what has captured the hearts of many as she seeks to bring out the message that pregnancy out of wedlock need not end your life.

This has earned her a nomination for the World Summit Youth Award 2014 scheduled to take place in November this year.

“I could not believe that my work has been voted one of the best 85 projects in the world. It is an indescribable feeling that brings so much joy, gratitude and happiness in me,” she says.

Pro-Life Movement has the chance to be selected as an outstanding contribution to the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

She offers: “Surprisingly, I had not planned on starting the movement. It all started on October 18, 2013 when I saw pictures of my previous classmate’s baby bump on Facebook.

“I was impressed at how positive she was about it as opposed to being sad and embracing the ‘my life just came to an end’ mentality. I decided to interview her.”

Esther says the response of her first pro-life interview was so great she decided to actually make it a movement. Pro-Life Movement Kenya is one that invites all, regardless of your past or your take on the matter.

ANOTHER LIFE

“I simply want ladies to see that the beginning of another life does not necessarily mean an end to another,” says Esther.

Esther, a Kianda School alumnus, says growing up in a family of six siblings, four boys and two girls, was pretty much exciting.

“I was born in Nairobi and had the best childhood ever. I have had to call three places home. My father was the Assistant Director of Starehe Boys Centre, which was my first home.

“My mother is a primary school teacher. We later moved to Muthama in Dagoretti. I fell in love with the serene and cool environment. Five years ago we relocated to Kikuyu where my parents still reside but I now live in Westlands,” she says.

Though she may not be aware of the number of women that have benefited from the movement, Esther says saving even one life makes all the difference.

“More than 500,000 abortions are procured in Kenya annually,” Esther says, quoting findings from Incidence and Complications of Unsafe Abortion in Kenya, a 2013 report released by Ministry of Health.

“In other words, more than 500,000 people are silently murdered in a span of only 12 months. That is a minimum of 40,000 deaths per month. What is the difference between an abortionist and a murderer? I would like to say that I do not judge anyone who has procured an abortion.”

She adds: “Moreover, I am not here to force any woman to keep her baby; after all, everyone has her rights and freedoms. I welcome those who have procured abortions, those who are pregnant, those who are abstaining and basically everyone to join the Pro-Life movement on their own.”

INFORM AND INSPIRE

My goal is to inform, inspire and ignite the Kenyan youth to join the Pro-Life movement because they believe in it. I would like the movement to be the silver lining in every young lady’s cloud during an unplanned pregnancy.”

Purity Kimani is one woman who has benefited from the Pro-Life Movement Kenya. When she got pregnant at 21, while still a marketing management student at the Kenya Institute of Management, she felt like her world had crumbled.

“I was scared and at the same time shocked. I didn’t know how my family and friends were going to take it. But thanks to Esther who showered me with words of encouragement, I was able to make the right decision,” she says.

“The Pro-Life Movement inspired me to keep my baby. It gave me hope that it is easy to choose life and made me realise that am not the only 21st century mother,” Purity adds: “To the men, if you make a woman pregnant, then take up the responsibility of raising that baby. And to the young ladies out there, there are many women who cry every night because they want a baby.

“God has a reason why you got pregnant. A baby is the best gift from God. Choose life dear ladies.”

BRAND AMBASSADOR

Besides running the Pro-Life Movement, Esther is a Marketing Associate intern at Google, a Bachelor of Commerce student at Strathmore University, a keen blogger and the Suzie Beauty brand ambassador for the youth market.

Being the ambassador for the youth market, she says, continues to open her mind, ensure quality on the Miss Independent blog and enables her to have a positive impact on other university students through the SuzieBeauty Campus Activation Project.

When it comes to blogging, she says she did not know what she was going to blog about.

“A decision to give a beggar part of the money I had saved to start a business was the inspiration that saw me pen my first blog post and that eventually marked the beginning of a journey into national leadership. I was drawn to blog about what truly matters to me, which is leaving this world a better place,” she says.

BRIGHT FUTURE

Esther’s future looks bright and promising as she looks forward to doing greater things.

“I aspire to have Miss Independent Show and Miss Independent Magazine that will enable me fulfil my mission, which is to inform, inspire and ignite the African youth.

“Ultimately, I look forward to being a God-fearing wife and mother,” she says.

She has a message for the youth: “God has bigger dreams for you than you may have for yourself. Just when you think you have your life plan well calculated and planned out,

“God shows you how you underestimated your potential. I have been to places I never thought I would be at 22. I would advise the youth to genuinely put God first at all times and know that hard work pays,” she says.