By M, KNA
The Government has urged Kenyans to harness the country’s youthful population by empowering them to make informed reproductive choices and strengthening family values to drive sustainable national development.
The call was made by the Director General of the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD), Dr. Mohammed Sheikh, during the commemoration of World Population Day in Nairobi, where the State of World Population Report was also disseminated.
Dr. Sheikh emphasized that the country is in a critical transition period and must prepare for demographic shifts that have already unsettled other nations, noting that young people remain central to shaping Kenya’s future.
“The future belongs to those who shape it today. As a nation, we must have honest conversations about our demographic journey and how best to harness our population potential. Young people are central to this process,” he said.
Dr. Sheikh explained that the council’s mandate is to advocate and educate on population issues, noting that Kenya’s greatest resource is its people.
He stressed that family planning is not about limiting numbers but about enabling families to plan when and how to have children.
“You can have as many children as you wish, provided you can take care of them. Our focus is on timing and responsibility, because a strong family means a strong nation,” he added.
The DG said that global concerns may be shifting towards declining fertility, but many Kenyan youth continue to face barriers in deciding when and how to start families.
Dr. Sheikh listed economic instability, limited jobs, expensive housing, persistent gender inequalities, poor access to reproductive healthcare and gender-based violence among the pressing issues.
He warned that the “triple threat” of teenage pregnancy, new HIV infections and gender-based violence remain a serious obstacle to economic growth.
He however acknowledged progress made over the years, including reduced maternal and infant mortality, higher life expectancy, improved immunization and a decline in teenage pregnancies from 20 percent in 2009 to 15 percent in 2022.
“We must build on these gains and do more, faster, to secure a better future for our youth,” he said.
“Kenya is blessed with a youthful and vibrant population. If we nurture it well, we can shape a strong and prosperous future for generations to come,” he said.
Dr. Sheikh stressed that the country’s youthful population is both its greatest opportunity and responsibility, urging investment in policies and programmes that empower young people while safeguarding family values.
The NCPD Director General further observed that Kenya’s increasing urbanization and migration trends bring both opportunities and risks. Nearly half of the country’s population now lives in towns, which has created pressures on housing, healthcare, water and jobs.
He urged investment in well-planned urban development guided by the National Urban Development Policy, alongside policies that protect the rights of migrants, especially women and girls.
He also cautioned that the growing impact of climate change through droughts, floods and food insecurity hits the poor and youth hardest, underscoring the need for climate-smart strategies that safeguard livelihoods.
The UNFPA Country Representative, Mr. Thomas Andersen, lauded Kenya for hosting the global launch of the State of World Population Report, noting that it was the first time the flagship publication had been launched in the Global South.
“It is because of Kenya’s leadership and progress in population issues that the UN chose Nairobi for this global event,” he said.
Andersen contrasted Kenya’s demographic position with countries such as China and those in Europe where fertility rates have fallen below replacement levels, creating new social and economic challenges.
“The conversation is not only about fewer children but also about ensuring families have the number of children they desire in a sustainable way, with provision for their education, health and dignity,” he added.
Youth representatives also underscored the need to address reproductive health alongside economic empowerment.
Fidelis Athiambo, from Youth for a Sustainable World, noted that while many programmes target young people’s health needs, they often fail to empower them socially and economically.
“A teenage mother who is equipped with skills such as carpentry, tailoring or running a small business is better placed to make informed reproductive choices. We must invest more in the informal sector where most young people earn their livelihoods,” she said.
Athiambo observed that nine out of 10 jobs created in 2024 were in the informal sector and urged greater support for youth entrepreneurship, saying such opportunities strengthen families and improve community well-being.
Jane Nyanjom, a policy officer at the Centre for the Study of Adolescence, reminded participants that fertility discussions must focus on individuals’ ability to realize their desired family goals.
“This is about giving people the freedom to make informed choices about when and how to have children, and ensuring dignity in those decisions,” she said.
NCPD, UNFPA and youth representatives pledged to strengthen collaboration in addressing Kenya’s demographic challenges.