Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has stirred debate after advising against the widespread use of modern contraceptives. Speaking in the Senate, Khalwale claimed that modern birth control methods are being pushed in Africa to deliberately control the population of black people.
He insisted that these methods are foreign and were not originally developed with the best interests of Africans in mind. Instead of promoting modern contraceptives blindly, he argued that more public education is needed to inform women about the possible effects and risks of using them.
According to Khalwale, a woman should only consider using modern contraceptives after she has had at least three children. He expressed concern that early use of these methods could lead to problems with fertility, something he believes is not being explained clearly to the public.
Khalwale was responding to a statement made by Senator Hamida Kibwana, who had called on the government to improve access to contraception. Kibwana argued that more access to modern contraceptives could help reduce unwanted pregnancies and lower the number of women facing complications from unsafe abortions.
While Khalwale acknowledged the importance of access, he warned that without proper education, modern contraceptives could be misused or misunderstood. He challenged Senator Kibwana to help ensure that the tools being made available are not used carelessly or without full understanding.
Khalwale also mentioned his medical background as a doctor and said he supports the use of traditional contraceptive methods. He explained that these traditional ways respect African culture and help families plan responsibly without exposing women to the health risks he believes come with modern methods.
He added that modern contraception should not be seen as the only option and that families should be taught about different choices, including those used by earlier generations.In recent years, the use of modern contraceptives in Kenya has gone up significantly.
Many women have turned to family planning to avoid unplanned pregnancies and to better manage their health and economic lives. However, some women have reported side effects such as weight gain, irregular periods, and even long delays in getting pregnant again after stopping certain contraceptives.
Injectables, in particular, have been blamed for taking several months before fertility returns to normal. These concerns have led some women to stop using modern contraception altogether, raising new challenges in family planning.
While the Ministry of Health continues to push for better access to modern contraceptives as a public health goal, Khalwale’s comments suggest a growing need to balance access with proper information.
