Doctor arrested for procuring abortion for Form One student

Police in Kuresoi North are holding a medical practitioner for allegedly helping a 15-year-old girl procure an abortion at his private clinic. 

Nakuru county police commander Stanly Tito Kilonzi said the 75-year-old clinical officer who is being held at Sirikwa police station, gave the Form One student drugs to terminate the pregnancy.

However, the girl was rushed to Molo Sub County hospital for treatment following the botched termination of the one-month-old pregnancy.

“We arrested the suspect who is currently being probed, before being arraigned at the court, where he will be charged with murder,” said Mr Kilonzi.

Kilonzi said the suspect runs a private clinic in Molo town.

The police boss added that investigations to arrest a 35-year-old man who impregnated the student is ongoing.

“We are looking for the casual labourer who impregnated the teenager, to charge him with defilement,” said Kilonzi.

The crime comes in the wake of a contentious Reproductive Healthcare Bill, 2019, tabled at the Parliament by Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika.

According to the Bill, a trained health profession shall not, terminate pregnancy, unless they have written consent from of pregnant woman.

In case of a minor, health professional should consult with minor’s guardian and determine that there is interests of the minor.

“A trained health profession shall not, where the circumstances arise under section 26 for the termination of pregnancy, terminate the pregnancy unless the health professional has— (a) obtained the written consent of the pregnant woman; or in the case of a pregnant minor, has consulted with the minor’s guardian and determined that the it is in the best interests of the minor,” reads the Bill in part.

Mother to the minor told The Standard in an interview that she was not involved in the plans to have the pregnancy terminated.

However, she said the suspect informed her through a relative that he took the action to enable the minor proceed with her education.

It is alleged the man lured the minor into a lodging where he defiled her, and later gave her pills to prevent pregnancy.

However, the girl was worried about her reproductive health, she was reluctant.

After a month, she didn’t have her menstrual cycle, an issue that forced her mother to take her for medical examination at the local clinic, where she was found to be pregnant.

“I was shocked to learn that my daughter was pregnant, but I accepted the eventuality, and was ready to take care of her baby, only to have the pregnancy terminated,” said devastated mother.

On realizing she was expectant, the 35-year-old took her to the clinic where the pregnancy was terminated.

Before terminating the pregnancy, the minor disappeared from their home on July 12.

Her disappearance was reported at Molo Police Station under Occurrence Book number 31/11/07/2020.

As family intensified search, the student reported back home on July 15, 2020, but her health was wanting- she had swollen legs, was bleeding and complained of acute abdominal pain.

She was rushed to Molo Hospital on July 15, treated and discharged on July 24.

Prior to her discharge, police from Kuresoi North visited her at the facility, and wrote a statement.

The minor is however sickly- she has swollen legs, general body weakness and complains of acute headache.

“Doctors told me to take care of my daughter at home because of congestion reported at the hospital, amid Covid-19 pandemic,” said the mother.

According to data by Children department, at least 25 teenage students have been impregnated in Kuresoi North.

The pregnancy has been reported in the months of January to June, cases that are on the rise.

At least 25 school going children have been impregnated in Kuresoi North, with 513 recorded in Rongai Sub County.