Martha Karua raises concerns over contraceptive trials in Kenya
By Kenneth Mwenda, August 16, 2025Senior Counsel and Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua has voiced strong concerns over what she terms the use of Kenyans, particularly women, in medical trials linked to contraceptives.
In a statement shared on her official X account on Saturday, August 16, 2025, Karua tagged key government and health institutions, including the Ministry of Health, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, President William Ruto, and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC).
She urged them to stop what she described as the use of Kenyans and African women as “Guinea pigs” for contraceptive experiments associated with philanthropist Bill Gates. According to her, such trials have been rejected in the United States and should not be carried out in Kenya.
“Stop using Kenyans and African women as Guinea pigs for contraceptive experiments rejected in his native country United States,” Karua wrote.
Contraceptives spark ethical debate
The remarks come at a time when reproductive health and population control policies remain a sensitive subject in Kenya. While the government and development partners have consistently argued that access to contraceptives is crucial in empowering women and addressing maternal health challenges, critics have often raised ethical questions around research, trials, and long-term health impacts.
Kenya has in the past worked with global health organizations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, on a wide range of health programs. These partnerships have included support for vaccine distribution, family planning services, and maternal health initiatives.
Experts note that any medical product, including contraceptives, must undergo approval by regulatory bodies such as the Pharmacy and Poisons Board before being administered in the country. Internationally, strict protocols are in place to ensure safety in clinical trials, although public skepticism remains high when such studies involve vulnerable populations.