Pressure over abortion resisted

A Kenyan minister has demanded more time to debate a proposed new constitution amid a row over...

A Kenyan minister has demanded more time to debate a proposed new constitution amid a row over abortion.

Both Catholic and Protestant churches have warned they will vote against the proposals if they do not make clear when life is deemed to begin and create room for abortion.

The Catholic Church has always maintained that life begins at conception, and a meeting of the National Council of Churches of Kenya in Limuru last week declared there would be no compromise on the matter.

Mutula Kilonzo, the country's justice minister, said church leaders should wait until the debate is in Parliament.

As well as opposing any proposal which paves the way for abortion, the Protestant clerics said the maximum number of nominated and elected MPs should be 250.

Mr Kilonzo said in Nairobi churches should not use the issue to threaten the process but should give MPs a chance to consider the proposals.

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