By Daniel Odeke
According to the Kenya Census and Population Report 2019, 75% of the population is below the age of 35 years and youth (10-19 years) constitute 24.5% of the total population. This is a very diverse group that can be an asset to any country. The survey also found that young people who want or need services face many barriers, including legal and policy issues, concerns about confidentiality, fear of discrimination, rudeness, and high costs. While the country has taken several measures to address adolescent health and well-being, including the development of the National Policy on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health, full implementation of the policy remains a challenge at the national and county levels. Without the implementation of the policy, adolescent reproductive health outcomes will remain low.
Recent capacity development of youth-led civil society organisations (CSOs) has demonstrated effective communication, policy advocacy, budget advocacy and social accountability. As a result, it has facilitated multi-stakeholder engagement and strengthened spaces for dialogue and challenge, leading to meaningful youth participation in policy and decision-making. The effective participation of youth in the design, implementation and evaluation of programmes ensures that their needs are met, while the strengthening of their capacity for advocacy and social accountability empowers them to raise their issues with policymakers and claim their rights in a meaningful way.
There is an unquestionable need to advance ASRHR. Part of the solution is for health-focused organisations to proactively advocate for changes in policies and laws that restrict adolescents’ access to sexual and reproductive health services. Capacity building of youth-focused organisations in policy advocacy and social accountability, training and awareness raising on the implementation of best practices to scale up the implementation of adolescent SRHR policies and expanding the space for learning and exchange within budgeted youth networks will provide an enabling environment for the advancement of the adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Kenya. In addition, advocating for the full implementation of youth-friendly policies, such as youth empowerment policies, back-to-school policies for pregnant adolescents and age-appropriate Comprehensive Sexuality Education, as well as the removal of barriers to young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services and commodities through the establishment of youth-friendly corners and, wherever possible, youth-friendly centres in existing public facilities, are key to advancing the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Charter in Kenya.
Daniel Odeke is an SRHR Advocate at NAYA Kenya.
