Dear Friend,

In a major victory, the Kenya Court of Appeal affirmed the right to respectful maternal health care for all Kenyans after hearing the harrowing story of our client Josephine Majani, who was abused, denied quality care, and left to deliver her baby on a concrete hospital floor. The Center for Reproductive Rights has represented Josephine throughout her ten-year court battle.

Wins like these would not be possible without your support. The Center won’t stop fighting to advance reproductive autonomy and the human right to quality, respectful and non-discriminatory maternal health care around the world. Give today to help us keep up this important work.

This appellate decision upholds a landmark 2018 judgment by the Kenyan High Court, which found that Josephine’s rights had been violated and recognized the right to quality maternal health care under the Kenyan Constitution.

“I have waited for years for the court to confirm that my rights were violated and to protect other mothers from experiencing such cruelty when giving birth. This experience continues to traumatize me, and I am hopeful that this is finally the end.” - Josephine Majani

For more than a decade, Josephine has experienced additional financial, social, and emotional burdens as the case has been dragged out by the Bungoma County government. With this decision, our client finally has legal closure. Support our work today as we fight to ensure that all people can access safe and quality reproductive health care.

Despite legal guarantees, maternal health care in Kenya continues to fall short of international standards. Nearly 5,000 women die each year in Kenya due to complications in pregnancy and childbirth — more than 80% of these deaths are due to poor quality care.

This is a significant victory, not just for all Kenyans, but for people around the world for whom we are building stronger legal protections for reproductive autonomy and access to care. This case — and Josephine's fight — will help to propel our forward fight for reproductive rights.

In solidarity,

Martin Onyango
Associate Director, Africa Legal Strategies