A rising number of Kenyan women, like Nelly Naisula Sironka and Muthoni Gitau, are opting for sterilisation, actively rejecting traditional expectations of motherhood in favor of personal freedom and life choices.
Kenyans Embrace Child-Free Choices: The Growing Trend of Sterilisation
Kenyans Embrace Child-Free Choices: The Growing Trend of Sterilisation
In Kenya, more women are choosing sterilisation over motherhood, challenging societal norms.
The conversation surrounding motherhood in Kenya is shifting as more women step away from traditional views and consider sterilisation as a viable option for their futures. Nelly Naisula Sironka, 28, exemplifies this change by undergoing a tubal ligation, a procedure that permanently prevents pregnancy. "I feel liberated," Sironka shared with the BBC, emphasizing that the choice allowed her to take control of her life. Her journey, along with others like Muthoni Gitau, a YouTuber and interior designer, signals a notable cultural shift, where younger generations are increasingly outspoken about their desire to remain child-free.
The Kenyan health ministry reported that between 2020 and 2023, approximately 16,000 women underwent tubal ligation. Traditionally, candidates for the procedure were mothers who had completed their families, but gynaecologist Dr. Nelly Bosire noted a notable trend: more childless women are now seeking sterilisation. This shift reflects a growing recognition of the right to make personal health decisions.
Despite some societal pressure to become mothers, figures like Sironka and Gitau find empowerment in their choices. Sironka credits her father for her independent mindset—which was influenced by feminist literature that presented diverse life stories without children. Gitau, who first articulated her desire to be child-free at the age of 10, faced obstacles when seeking the procedure, often encountering medical professionals resistant to her wishes.
Overcoming these barriers, Gitau was finally able to obtain the procedure without pushback from a more understanding doctor. She expressed gratitude for living in a time and space where women have the agency to choose their paths, noting the positive reception to her YouTube video detailing her sterilisation journey.
Both women are challenging societal norms and fostering an environment that encourages choices beyond traditional motherhood. They advocate for the significance of women's contributions to society in various ways, reaffirming that empowerment comes from the freedom to choose one’s own destiny.
The Kenyan health ministry reported that between 2020 and 2023, approximately 16,000 women underwent tubal ligation. Traditionally, candidates for the procedure were mothers who had completed their families, but gynaecologist Dr. Nelly Bosire noted a notable trend: more childless women are now seeking sterilisation. This shift reflects a growing recognition of the right to make personal health decisions.
Despite some societal pressure to become mothers, figures like Sironka and Gitau find empowerment in their choices. Sironka credits her father for her independent mindset—which was influenced by feminist literature that presented diverse life stories without children. Gitau, who first articulated her desire to be child-free at the age of 10, faced obstacles when seeking the procedure, often encountering medical professionals resistant to her wishes.
Overcoming these barriers, Gitau was finally able to obtain the procedure without pushback from a more understanding doctor. She expressed gratitude for living in a time and space where women have the agency to choose their paths, noting the positive reception to her YouTube video detailing her sterilisation journey.
Both women are challenging societal norms and fostering an environment that encourages choices beyond traditional motherhood. They advocate for the significance of women's contributions to society in various ways, reaffirming that empowerment comes from the freedom to choose one’s own destiny.
