By Rodney Alubokho
The country has been drawn into national dialogue by the appointment of the new Health Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Aden Duale, especially among sexual and reproductive health (SRH) rights champions focused on youth and adolescents. At a time when Kenya is still struggling with teen pregnancies, high incidence rates of new HIV infections among younger people, and poor access to youth-friendly services, the question persists—can this leadership transition signal an SRH turning point, or is this going to be a detour?
Kenya has made significant strides in SRH. Based on the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), there is an improvement in the uptake of contraceptives among young women and marginally declining adolescent birth rates. Programs like the National Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy (2015) and the incorporation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) into school education created opportunities for transformation. Despite this, gaps in implementation and poor political commitment hindered progress.
Aden Duale’s earlier political activities show more conservatism on matters regarding reproductive rights and issues related to sex education. This has created worries among stakeholders regarding the possibility of direction changes in policy. His earlier resistance to liberal SRH bills indicates that some liberties—especially access to family planning by young people and CSE—can expect to encounter renewed opposition.
His appointment comes with an added advantage, however. As an experienced politician with strong relationships with both the executive and Parliament, Duale can consolidate policy implementation and mobilization of resources. If he opts to act on evidence rather than ideology, he can speed up the delivery of SRH services by empowering community health programs, funding county-driven adolescent health programs, and enabling partnerships with civil society.
There have already been increased demands for accountability. As this month began, the Kenya SRHR Alliance released an open letter calling on the incoming CS to maintain constitutional rights to health and to reproductive services. They pointed to current disruptions to youth clinics in some Nairobi and Kisumu neighborhoods owing to halted state funds — something that stands to deteriorate if left unchecked.
Ultimately, the impact of this leadership change will not only hinge on policy but also on political will and inclusiveness. Adolescents and youth make up more than 60% of the population. Neglecting to address their SRH needs would not only set back progress made but would potentially deepen disparities. Therefore, it is crucial that CS Duale prioritize health at the forefront of his agenda, regardless of his ideological beliefs.
