Ruth Mumbi

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Ruth Mumbi, a human rights defender in a Nairobi slum, delivered this speech during the International Parliamentary Conference on Human Rights in the Modern Day Commonwealth at West Minster London, United Kingdom, on 4 February 2015.">

28 February 2011 began just like any other ordinary day. That is, until I received a distress call from my colleague Carolyn, a fellow community organiser, with the sad information about the preventable death of expectant mother due to birth-related complications.

Lillian Musomi, 17 years of age, was a victim of early pregnancy. She was impregnated by a young teenage guy of the same age. As the boy could not support her he was forced to drop Lillian and deny the pregnancy.