Vasectomy procedure. Kisumu MCAs have watered down attempts to lower down the cost of various birth controls for fear of diminished numbers. [Photo: urology.com]Kisumu County MCAs have rejected proposals to lower the cost of birth control, arguing that this will prevent the region from acquiring the desired numbers for political advantage.The members, according to the Nation, argued that reducing the fees charged for vasectomy would encourage men to go for the procedure and, therefore, deny them a chance to sire more children. Vasectomy is widely considered a permanent method of birth control in men.This, they said, would slow down population growth in their county, a disadvantage to them politically.Muhoroni/Koru MCA Julius Genga proposed the procedure be made more expensive to increase the population in the long term.“We need tyranny of numbers, not suppressing the numbers we have at the moment,” said Genga as quoted by Nation.Kisumu’s population is estimated at 1,145,749 people with 385,820 registered voters according to the latest statistics by the electoral commission.The MCAs also rejected proposals to reduce the cost of tubal ligation which is a surgical procedure for women going for birth control.The public, during the participation forums on the 2017 Kisumu County Finance Bill, had proposed a reduction of charges.According to the proposed law, those intending to go for tubal ligation and vasectomy at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital will have to part with Sh1,500, the paper further reports.Discussing the bill tabled by the Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairman Stephen Owiti, the MCAs wanted the rates to either be maintained or increased to prevent men from accessing the service.

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