Kenya

DSW Kenya envisions a world where all youth – especially girls and young women – live free from disease and make independent and informed choices over their sexual and reproductive lives with full access to sexuality education, health services and modern contraceptives.
We do this by advocating with policy makers for investment in domestic resources and policies for youth-friendly SRHR, through multisectoral approaches.
Through the DSW Youth Empowerment Strategic Approach (YESA), and the Young Adolescent Empowerment Strategy (YAES), we work with young people to raise their awareness on sexual reproductive health and rights, gender equality and access to modern contraceptives and to strengthen their livelihoods.
The DSW lifeyangu.com online platform provides access to accurate, reliable SRHR information to young people, and connects them to health facilities.

Nairobi Office

Hatheru Court | Hatheru Road (Lavington)

PO BOX 2438-00202, Nairobi

Tel. +254 20 3572302, +254 736 616491

Email: info@dswkenya.org

Mombassa Office

Sheetal Plaza | 5th Flr | Moi Avenue Mombasa

Tel: +254 772 099656

Email: info@dswkenya.org

Kitale Field Office

Africa Theological Seminary, Section 6 Estate | Waterworks Rd, Kitale

Tel: +254 772 099656

Email: info@dswkenya.org

“We must continue to ensure the needs of the youth are adequately considered in county and national development plans. After all, they are the single-largest demographic group in Kenya (34% are aged 10-24 years old)”

Evelyn Samba, Country Director DSW Kenya

What we do

Youth Empowerment

Build youth’s awareness and demand for sexual reproductive health rights through age appropriate and gender-sensitive sexuality education and training.

Youth Friendly Health Services

Provide youth with access to quality reproductive health services within their communities, in youth centres and youth empowerment centres.

Gender Equality

Strengthen girls’ rights, advance gender equality as an enabler for sexual reproductive girl rights and eliminate harmful practices.

Economic Empowerment

Identify opportunities to support livelihoods and advance youth economic empowerment

Capacity Building

Build and nurture youth-led organizations and strengthen their advocacy skills, including institutional capacity.

Advocacy

Advocate for increased investments in youth and adolescent SRHR through a multi-sectoral approach.

Our projects

Vijana Vuka na Afya (VIVA)

VIVA aims to improve the sexual and reproductive health outcomes and socio- economic well-being of Kenya’s youth aged 15- 24 years residing in informal settlements in Kisumu, Mombasa and Nairobi.

Youth For Health

Youth 4 Health seeks to enhance adolescent sexual reproductive health and rights in Kwale and West Pokot counties.

Reaching the Last Girl (RTLG)

RTLG aims at improving the health and wellness of Adolescent Mothers living with HIV and their children in Migori and Kilifi counties.

Linda Binti

Linda Binti aims at reducing the incidences and effects of unintended pregnancies on vulnerable teenagers aged 10-24 years in Nairobi’s Mathare and Korogocho informal settlements.

Stronger Community Organizations for Reproductive Equity (SCORE)

SCORE contributes to the advancement of policies, systems and practices that support SRHR, including access to and use of contraception, for women and girls in Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale and West Pokot counties. In addition, the project has a component of building the capacity of grassroot level SRHR-focused Youth-led organizations as advocates for SRHR.

Connect a Girl (CAG)

Connect a Girl strengthens the agency of women and girls to engage in collective action and participate in decision making processes to eliminate Sexual Exploitation and Violence in Kwale County.

Direct to Consumer (D2C)

D2C seeks to promote and deliver contraceptive services to youth in Gilgil and Njoro areas of Nakuru county. The outcome is increased youth awareness and demand for contraception services and increased uptake.

Youth Organised and Engaged Project (YOEP)

YOEP seeks to contribute to the national goal of harnessing youth potential to accelerate economic growth and achieve a demographic dividend.

Kenya School Life Skills Enhanced Delivery (SLED)

SLED secures adolescents’ SRHR by improving school systems to deliver life skills education to reduce the triple threat of teen pregnancies, HIV infections and SGBV.

Delivering Accurate Information and Services On SRHR, GBV and Harmful Practices to Young People (DAISY)

DAISY is a project aimed at increasing access to information and services on SRHR, GBV and harmful practices such as FGM and child marriages, by adolescents and young people. It is implemented in West Pokot, Samburu, Narok and Nairobi Counties as well as in four National Youth Service (NYS) Centres- Gilgil, Ruaraka, Naivasha and Kisumu.

See all projects

Our team in Kenya

Evelyn Samba

Country Director DSW Kenya

Telephone: +254 20 3572302
Email: info@dswkenya.org

Judy Kariuki-Mukui

National Team Coordinator HR & Admin

Telephone: +254 20 3572302
Email: judy.kariuki@dswkenya.org

Josephine Adhiambo

National Teams Coordinator Finance

Telephone: +254 20 3572302
Email: josephine.adhiambo@dswkenya.org

Vitalis Mukhebi

National Department Manager Programmes and Projects

Telephone: +254 20 3572302
Email: vitalis.mukhebi@dswkenya.or g

News from Kenya

Active in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

And the winners are…..

Investing in GBV Prevention Makes Economic Sense

The Power of Option Protect the Right to Contraception Choice

I believe youths can influence change on issues affecting them- Chebet Marcelina

Adolescent champion challenges African leaders to improve SRHR for young people

See all news

KENYA: Good progress has been made but let’s not slow down

Blog | 08. February 2023

The recently released Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022, has very positive findings on key Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) indicators.

It is a sign that we are on the right path in addressing key challenges, including teenage pregnancies, gender-based violence, and contraception use.

The results have been years in the making, with various measures put in place.

Among them are commitments such as the International Conference on Population and Development, which included elimination of teenage pregnancies, new adolescent and youth HIV infections and harmful practices, while ensuring universal access to youth-friendly SRHR services and information by 2030.

Under the Family Planning (FP2030), Kenya committed to increase domestic financing for family planning commodities, increasing modern contraception use to 64 per cent by 2030 and reducing unmet need for family planning for all women to10 per cent by 2030.

Thanks to such commitments, teenage pregnancy has reduced from 18 per cent in 2014 to 15 per cent in 2022. Contraception use has increased from 53 per cent to 57 per cent, and unmet need for family planning has reduced from 17 per cent to 14 per cent within the same period. Additionally, percentage of physical violence against women has reduced from 45 per cent in 2014 to 34 per cent in 2022 and from 44 per cent to 27 per cent in men.

Of concern, is the high teenage pregnancy in counties such as Samburu (50 per cent), West Pokot (36 per cent), Marsabit (29 per cent), Narok (28 per cent) and Meru (23 per cent). It is a sign that efforts by stakeholders should be ramped up in these counties and others like Mandera, Wajir and Marsabit where the rate of modern contraception use, at two, three and six per cent respectively, is significantly lower than the national average. Society has socialised women to believe they should not be active participants in sex. The availability, affordability and ease of use of male condoms compared to female condoms places power in the hands of men.

It has been shown that younger people (15-17 years) have the lowest level of knowledge of HIV prevention. According to National Syndemic Disease Control Council, 42 per cent of new adult HIV infections are amongst adolescents and young people. For us to make inroads in changing this status, we must prioritise young people in our HIV prevention interventions from awareness creation to provision of testing services.

We must increase our efforts, now that the world is undergoing various challenges such as climate change, which worsen existing SRHR vulnerabilities, including access to services and exposure to violence. Economic vulnerabilities also pose difficulties and raises risk of exposure to child marriages and related consequences such as SGBV and teen pregnancies. If these vulnerabilities are not addressed, they would turn the tides on the progress made.

This article was written by Ms Evelyn Samba, Kenya country director at DSW, and was first published by The Standard on February 7.

Photo: DSW/Brian Otieno

Nduta Waweru

DSW Kenya Annual Report 2021 Empowering Young People

Blog | 14. September 2022

As DSW Kenya, we are proud to be the to-go-to organisation when it comes to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) programming for young people and adolescents in Kenya. For over 22 years now, we have been making sure young people are empowered to lead healthy and self-determined lives.

It is with this spirit that we present the DSW Kenya Annual Report 2021 (HIGHLIGHTS).

In it, we highlight the impact we have had throughout 2021, against a backdrop of a very fluid external environment with factors such as impact of COVID-19 spread and containment measures; clamour for the constitution through the Building Bridges Initiative; and the declaration of drought as a national disaster by H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta. Despite these external factors, and a number of internal ones, DSW Kenya was able to implement its programmes successfully by going digital and by blending virtual and in-person activities, with strict adherence to COVID-19 containment measures.

Some key highlights include:

We reached 11,690 young people with reproductive health information and services
126 young people were trained as youth champions.
There was a 21% average increase in family planning allocation in 11 counties
80 parents from Village Savings and Loans Associations benefit from loans obtained from group savings

As we look back at all these factors, we are confident that in the new year, the investments we made over 2021 until today will serve us to meet the needs of the youth in an ever-changing environment.

Nduta Waweru

DSW’s budget analysis: Family planning investment in 11 counties in Kenya

Blog | 26. June 2021

From the eleven counties studied, it was evident that there was no dedicated line item for family planning in the majority of the counties except for Mombasa, Kilifi and Laikipia counties.

Whilst, counties have Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) as a sub-programme,it is impossible to pinpoint the allocations for family planning within this RMNCAH sub-program. The estimation of budgetary allocation at the county level was therefore undertaken using workload statistics with one inpatient case taken to be equivalent to 4 outpatient visits.

The data collected derived workload statistics for: family planning services & all other services, staff time utilization family planning, and where relevant staff time utilisation for maternal and child health/family planning.
All workloads were converted in outpatient visits equivalent: i.e. one inpatient-day or one bed-day was assumed to be equal to 4 outpatient visits
All the bed-days encompassing inpatient and maternity services were converted into outpatient visits and added to all outpatients’ visits to obtain total workload equivalent.
The family planning percentage was then obtained by dividing total family planning visits by total workload equivalent visits.
This was done for every county for the period 2015/16, 2016/17 ,2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20.
A trend analysis was determined, and an average growth was used to generate the proportions for FY 2020/21
The proportions were then used to derive the allocations to FP services in each county using the percentage of family planning workload in total workload in the county.
The county allocation to health multiplied by family planning percentage to get an estimate of County Government allocation to family planning in each of the financial years.

WHAT WE FOUND OUT

The County Government of Bungoma did not have a budget line for family planning in the 2020/2021 programme-based budget. However, indirect family planning allocation* by the County Government of Bungoma was estimated at KS. 86,296,028. Read more…

The County Government of Kilifi had a budget line for family planning for FY 2020/2021 with an allocation of KES. 7,802,099. Additionally, indirect family planning allocation by the Kilifi County Government was estimated at KES. 139,922,459. Read more…

The County Government of Laikipia had a budget planning for family planning for FY 2020/2021 with an allocation of KES. 880, 000, a decline from KES.1,350,000 in 2019/20. Additionally, there was an indirect family planning allocation by the County Government of Laikipia estimated at KES. 73,707,973. Read more…

The County Government of Meru did not have a budget line for family planning for FY 2020/2021. However, indirect family planning allocation* by the County Government of Meru was estimated at KES. 97,129,863. Read more…

The County Government of Mombasa for the first time allocated KES. 20 million towards Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) and family planning-related activities in the county 2020/21 program-based budget. Additionally, indirect family planning allocation by the County Government of Mombasa was estimated at KES. 105,932,536. Read more…

The County Government of Nakuru did not have a budget line for family planning for FY 2020/2021. However, indirect family planning allocation by the County Government of Nakuru was estimated at KES. 278,504,769. Read more…

The County Government of Nandi did not have a budget line for family planning for FY 2020/2021. However, indirect family planning allocation* by the County Government of Nandi was estimated at KES. 89,828,967. Read more…

The County Government of Nyandarua did not have a budget line for family planning for FY 2020/2021. However, indirect family planning allocation* by the County Government of Nyandarua was estimated at KES. 96,830,572. Read more…

The County Government of Trans Nzoia did not have a budget line for family planning for FY 2020/2021. However, indirect family planning allocation by the County Government of Trans Nzoia was estimated at KES. 99,739,734. Read more…

The County Government of Uasin Gishu did not have a budget line for family planning for FY 2020/2021. However, indirect family planning allocation by the County Government of Uasin Gishu was estimated at KES. 118,346,154. Read more…

The County Government of West Pokot did not have a budget line for family planning for FY 2020/2021. However, indirect family planning allocation by the County Government of West Pokot was estimated at KES. 45,503,502. Read more…

WHY THE BUDGET STUDY IS IMPORTANT

DSW works in partnership with civil society organisations, youth-led advocacy networks, the national government and county governments in Kenya to advocate for increased funding from national and county governments in Kenya to address the unmet need for family planning. DSW’s advocacy work in Kenya is implemented in West Pokot, Kilifi, Laikipia, Meru, Mombasa, Nakuru, Nyandarua, Nandi, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia and Uasin Gishu counties.

Conducting budget analyses is one of the ways in which we generate evidence to support our advocacy work.

Through advocacy, we aim to mobilise more and better funds from key European donors (Germany and The European Union) as well as from east African governments (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) to support family planning.

Investing in family planning is key for Kenya’s quest to be a newly industrialising, middle-income country, providing a high-quality life to all its citizens by the year 2030. Kenya’s status as a lower middle-income country means that we are slowly being weaned off development funding for basic services such as health.

The Health Sector Working Group Report 2021/22-2023/24 published in October 2020 notes that Development Partners for Health Kenya (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of the UK Government, UNFPA, USAID, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) have pledged to match government of Kenya funding for Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child and Adolescent Health (which includes family planning) funding on a sliding scale till Kenya takes over domestic financing by 2023.

Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW)

#YouthCan2020 – Highlights of DSW’s work in Kenya in 2020

Blog | 26. April 2021

DSW Kenya implemented its programmes despite challenges experienced from the beginning of the year 2020.

Externally, there was fear and anxiety among our stakeholders at the onset of COVID 19. Containment measures instituted such as school closures, limitation of movement, ban on public gatherings and the requirement to use face masks and sanitise while in public brought their own share of challenges.

First, access to affordable, stable and reliable internet connectivity as an alternative mode of working was a major setback for the majority of our constituents. Second, the costs related to compliance with these measures were not planned for, meaning that we had to redirect resources to meet the emerging needs.

To ensure continuity of programme implementation, DSW Kenya successfully supported staff and young people to access internet connectivity and deployed the use of digital tools for online working.

Activities targeting adolescents in school were moved to the community setting through our Youth Empowerment Centres in DSW Kenya programme localities. This allowed young adolescents to continue accessing life skills education and sexual and reproductive health information.

Peer-to-peer education also continued virtually using online tools such as WhatsApp. At the same time, DSW Kenya trained and supported youth champions continued to influence the policy and budget-making process using virtual campaigns, maintained online engagements with legislators and submitted memos online.

While these adjustments ensured that DSW Kenya was still able to implement its activities. Across the board, sexual reproductive health information and service provision was not prioritised. This left thousands of young people disenfranchised. DSW Kenya stepped in to support Youth Empowerment Centres to provide youth-friendly information and services. We also supported the convening of Technical Working Groups at the county to ensure that the sexual and reproductive health/family planning agenda was not lost during the crisis. Additionally, the Youth Empowerment Centres stepped up to complement government’s efforts in disseminating COVID 19 prevention measures and the COVID 19 Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) guidelines.

Overall, DSW Kenya was able to sustain both its programme priorities for the year. We look back with pride in the way we have held out in the midst of a challenging period. We are particularly encouraged by the zeal and agility with which the young people we work with have moved to embrace the challenges and turn them around to opportunities.

But we also see the need to learn from the experiences of the past year and rethink our programme designs and approaches so that DSW Kenya emerges stronger. This is our commitment going forward.

Click here to download a copy of #YouthCan2020 – Highlights of DSW’s work in Kenya in 2020.

This article is the foreword of the 2020 DSW Kenya annual report as penned by Evelyn Samba, Country Director, Kenya.

Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW)

Domestic investments for family planning in Kenya steady

Blog | 08. June 2020

Investments for family planning in DSW partner counties in Kenya remains steady, a budget analysis conducted by Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) shows.

The budget analysis, conducted in October 2019, examined county appropriation bills, programme based budgets, annual work plans and national and county Policies in support of family planning.

Findings

The County Government of Bungoma does not have a budget line for family planning in the 2019/2020 programme based budget. However, indirect family planning allocation by the County Government of Bungoma was estimated at KES. 131,348,856 (1,313,488 USD). Read more…

The County Government of Kilifi has a budget line for family planning for FY 2019/2020 in the county’s Programme Based Budget with an allocation of KES. 7,802,099. Additionally, indirect family planning allocation* by the Kilifi County Government was estimated at KES. 197,093,028 (1,970,930 USD). Read more…

The County Government of Laikipia has a budget line for family planning for FY 2019/2020 with an allocation of KES 1,351,000 (13,510 USD) in the county’s programme based budget. Additionally, indirect family planning allocation by the County Government of Laikipia was estimated at KES. 86,450,574 (864,505 USD). Read more…

The County Government of Meru does not have a budget line for family planning for FY 2019/2020 in the 2019/2020 programme based budget. However, indirect family planning allocation by the County Government of Meru was estimated at KES. 260,675,244 (2,606,752 USD). Read more…

The County Government of Mombasa does not have a budget line for family planning for FY 2019/2020 in the 2019/2020 programme based budget. However, indirect family planning allocation by the County Government of Mombasa was estimated at KES. 167,925,673 (1,679,256 USD). Read more…

The County Government of Nakuru does not have a budget line for family planning for FY 2019/2020 in the 2019/2020 programme based budget. However, indirect family planning allocation by the County Government of Nakuru was estimated at KES.396,516,786 (3,965,167 USD). Read more…

The County Government of Nandi does not have a budget line for family planning for FY 2019/2020 in the 2019/2020 programme based budget. However, indirect family planning allocation by the County Government of Nandi was estimated at KES. 124,277,962 (1,242,779.62). Read more…

The County Government of Nyandarua does not have a budget line for family planning for FY 2019/2020 in the 2019/2020 programme based budget. However, indirect family planning allocation by the County Government of Nyandarua was estimated at KES. 99,280,100 (992,801 USD). Read more…

The County Government of Trans Nzoia does not have a budget line for family planning for FY 2019/2020 in the 2019/2020 programme based budget. However, indirect family planning allocation by the County Government of Trans Nzoia was estimated at KES. 167,984,064 (1,679,840 USD). Read more…

The County Government of Uasin Gishu does not have a budget line for family planning for FY 2019/2020 in the 2019/2020 programme based budget. However, indirect family planning allocation by the County Government of Uasin Gishu was estimated at KES. 135,167,797 (1,351,677 USD). Read more…

The County Government of West Pokot does not have a budget line for family planning for FY 2019/2020 in the 2019/2020 programme based budget. However, indirect family planning allocation by the County Government of West Pokot was estimated at KES. 47,372,693 (473,726 USD). Read more…

Methodology

Budgetary allocation for family planning by county governments was not always available during the analysis, since most counties do not have family planning specific line items. This necessitated the use of costing methods to estimate amount allocated for family planning at that level. The data collected derived workload statistics for: family planning services & all other service, staff time utilization family planning and where relevant staff time utilization for maternal and child health/family planning.
• All workloads were converted in outpatient visits equivalent: i.e. one inpatient-day or one bed-day was assumed to be equal to 4 outpatient visits
• All the bed-days encompassing inpatient and maternity services were converted into outpatient visits and added to all outpatients’ visits to obtain total workload equivalent.
• The family planning percentage was then obtained by dividing total family planning visits by total workload equivalent visits.
• This was done for every county for the period 2015/16, 2016/17 ,2017/18, 2018/19.
• A trend analysis was determined, and an average growth was used to generate the proportions for FY 2019/20
• The proportions were then used to derive the allocations to FP services in each county using the percentage of family planning workload in total workload in the county.
• The county allocation to health multiplied by family planning percentage to get an estimate of County Government allocation to family planning in each of the financial years.

Note: The workload data in each county was obtained from the Kenya DHIS-2

Advocacy for domestic family planning investments

Conducting budget analyses is one of the ways in which we generate evidence to support our advocacy work.

Through advocacy, we aim to mobilize more and better funds from key European donors (Germany and The European Union) as well as from east African governments (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) to support family planning.

Investing in family planning is key for Kenya’s quest to be a newly industrialising, middle-income country, providing a high-quality life to all its citizens by the year 2030. Our Kenya country director Evelyn Samba explains how in this article.

The effect of COVID-19 on family planning investments

In light of COVID-19, DSW is working with like-minded organisations to secure and maintain funding for reproductive health and family planning in Kenya. A recent report from the Kenya Health Information System (KHIS) published by the council of governors, showed that the response to COVID-19 is already negatively impacting critical areas of healthcare in Kenya including reproductive health and family planning.

Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW)

Kenya: While dealing with COVID-19, let us not forget sexual and reproductive healthcare

Blog | 30. April 2020

Kenya, along with the rest of the world is currently responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

How the COVID-19 pandemic will affect the different aspects of our lives is continuously being documented and discussed.

The economic effects of COVID-19 and the response of the Kenyan government has been well documented.

More recently, the United Nations, through the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), has led the way in discussions about how the pandemic is affecting women and girls at risk of gender-based violence.

The effect of COVID-19 on sexual and reproductive healthcare

However, the effect of COVID-19 on healthcare, especially sexual and reproductive healthcare, has not been discussed in the same depth and breadth.

During times of health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, it is expected that our healthcare system will be pushed to the limit. It is also expected that resources will be redirected to deal with the crisis at hand, leading to deprioritisation of other areas of healthcare.

One critical health programme likely to be negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic response is the Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) programme, both at national and county levels.

As Kenya battles COVID-19, Kenyan women (and their partners) still need to have a satisfying and safe sex life, choose if and when they want to have children.

The World Health Organisation, in a factsheet titled “Disaster Risk Management for Health – Sexual and reproductive health” identifies that in times of crisis, disruption in reproductive health services can lead to a range of adverse outcomes. The factsheet identifies negative outcomes including an increase in sexually transmitted infections, possible spread of HIV, increased unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions as well as maternal and neonatal deaths

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in its publication “Reproductive Health for Communities in Crisis” describes how in times of crisis, reproductive health needs are likely to be overlooked.

Simply put, the UNFPA says that in times of crisis, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, the national and county governments need to keep providing reproductive healthcare services. Providing reproductive healthcare services through the crisis means at the very minimum, the public health sector is able to address complications of pregnancy and delivery, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections including HIV and AIDS, adolescent sexual and reproductive health concerns, and access to condoms and other contraceptives.

Even before the onset of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Kenya was struggling with sexual and reproductive healthcare issues. Kenya’s rate of preventable maternal deaths is still unacceptably high. 362 per 100,000 live births according to the Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey, 2014. Too many women do not have access to modern contraceptives, too many adolescents and young people are getting pregnant and getting infected with HIV.

Funding requirements for sexual and reproductive healthcare

Kenya was also struggling to meet funding requirements for sexual and reproductive healthcare before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. In a budget analysis our organisation conducted in nine counties with funding commitments (family planning costed implementation plans) in the 2018/2019 fiscal year, all nine counties invested less in their family planning programmes for the 2018/2019 fiscal year than they needed to.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this dire situation could get worse if we do not pay attention to reproductive healthcare.

The silver lining is that we have commitment from the highest political office on reproductive healthcare. At the Nairobi Summit on the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD +25) held in November 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta committed that Kenya will end unmet need for family planning information and services; preventable maternal deaths and maternal injuries; as well as sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices among other reproductive health challenges.

The public healthcare system serves majority of Kenyans

It is vital that the national government and county governments ensure that we continue to work towards these commitments, especially because the majority of Kenyan women access reproductive healthcare services from public health facilities.

A good illustration of the importance of the public health system in providing sexual and reproductive healthcare is access to contraceptives. According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2014, the public sector is the major source of contraceptive methods in Kenya, providing contraception to 6 out of 10 (60 per cent) of current users. 24 per cent of users obtain their methods from government dispensaries, 20 per cent from government hospitals, and 16 per cent from government health centres.

As the national and county governments reorganise the public health system to respond to COVID-19, decision-makers need to keep in mind that millions of Kenyans depend on the public sector for reproductive healthcare. It is therefore imperative that the public health system remains adequately resourced and ready to meet the reproductive healthcare needs of Kenyan women and their partners.

This article was written by Evelyn Samba. Ms. Samba is the Kenya country director at Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW). evelyn.samba@dswkenya.org.

Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW)

Domestic investments for sexual and reproductive health and family planning key in Kenya’s quest to improve health outcomes for the youth

Blog | 14. February 2020

Sheila Chepkoech, 17, sat for her 2019 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education at Kapkeben Secondary School in Uasin Gishu, balancing between the exam schedule and motherhood.

Sheila says she had no knowledge about how to avoid unintended pregnancy. “I never heard of protection measures since childhood l(sic). Now I know better. I use an implant. I have no regrets. My baby is fine. I am doing fine,” said Sheila.

Fortunately for Chepkoech, her father, Philip Barno, embraced and offered her support. Like many communities in Kenya, teenage pregnancy is frowned upon in Sheila’s community.

“I chose to support her to continue with education after I realised where we had gone wrong,” he says, indicating that they were hostile to her after she informed them of the pregnancy.

These two are part of statistics that demographers and health experts describe as alarming, something they blame on negative cultural norms, poverty levels, and little knowledge.

Future in jeopardy

The World Health Organisation places teen pregnancy as one of the major contributors to maternal and child mortality and to intergenerational cycles of ill-health and poverty.

Complications arising from pregnancy and childbirth are leading causes of death of teenagers aged 15-19, who face higher risks of eclampsia, puerperal (postpartum) endometritis, and systemic infections. They also have high emotional, psychological and social needs compared to older women.

In terms of childbearing, adolescent girls face more risks including babies born with low birth weight, preterm delivery, and severe neonatal conditions.

Among communities in the North Rift in Kenya, there was a traditional way of addressing sexuality. “Grandparents, older siblings, uncles and aunties used to talk to adolescents and the youth about sexuality. But the system has collapsed. Sex is not discussed between young people and the elderly or if it is discussed, it is usually in hushed tones,” explains John Anampiu, the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) North Rift Regional Coordinator.

Domestic investments to provide youth-friendly services

In a commentary published in Kenya’s widest circulating newspaper, Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW) Kenya’s Country Director Ms. Evelyn Samba made a case for investments in youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health and family planning services. 14 million Kenyans, or 30 percent of the population, are 10-24 years old like Sheila Chepkoech.

It is because of these reasons that Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW) is implementing a three-year initiative (2019 – 2021), advocating for more and better funds for family planning from the national government and 11 county governments. DSW is also working with civil society organisations and youth-led organisations towards improved national and county family planning policies in Kenya. The 11 counties are West Pokot, Kilifi, Laikipia, Meru, Mombasa, Nakuru,Nyandarua, Nandi, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia and Uasin Gishu.

“In order to secure access to contraceptives for the youth, public health facilities need to be equipped to provide youth-friendly services. Increasing the number of facilities offering such services requires funding. However, external funding for these programmes is fast dwindling. Kenya’s classification to a lower-middle-income country in 2014 means that international development assistance for it is reducing. Secondly, reinstatement of the Mexico City policy has affected external funding inflow from the United States, one of Kenya’s biggest sources,” Ms. Samba wrote.

Parts of the content of this story was originally published in ‘The People Daily’, a newspaper in Kenya for a feature story written by a journalist trained and supported by DSW to write better stories on sexual and reproductive health and family planning.

Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW)

Nothing for us without us! Empowering the youth in Kenya to advocate for their family planning needs

Blog | 25. January 2019

On World Contraception Day 2018, Santa Kagendo, a young woman from Meru County was granted one minute to address the governor of Meru county at the launch event of the Meru County Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan.

Her task? To deliver an important message on behalf of the youth – that the youth of Meru County need access to youth friendly sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning services.

In that one minute, Ms. Kagendo delivered her message to Governor Kiraitu Murungi and 200 other guests who included county ministers and county legislators.

She urged Governor Kiraitu Murungi to ensure that the funding commitments required to provide the youth with youth friendly services are met.

But Ms. Kagendo was not always confident, knowledgeable and in the right spaces to speak with decision makers about her needs and those of her fellow youth.

She is one of the 400 youth DSW has trained and supported since 2016 to advocate for the family planning needs of the youth in Kenya.

“DSW has built my capacity on issues of advocacy through the trainings (sic) that I was involved in. The IEC materials constantly provided by the organization, have also enabled me to be a good advocate for family planning. Working with DSW has also exposed me to interactions with county officials and leaders,” Ms. Kagendo said about DSW’s role in supporting her become a better family planning advocate.

Other young people in decision making spaces

Other than Ms. Kagendo, three other youth trained and supported by DSW have also claimed their space in key policy and decision making bodies which make decisions on health and family planning investments in Kenya.

Kevin Kocheli (Trans Nzoia County), Felix Magut (Nandi County), and Andrew Wachelon (West Pokot County) will sit in the County Budget and Economic Forums (CBEFs) in their counties for the next five years.

The county budget and economic forum is designed to function as a financial and economic management think-tank for county government in Kenya. The forums are used by the county governor to identify county priorities and budget for them. These priorities include family planning investments.

Since 2016, DSW has trained and supported 400 young people from 11 counties in Kenya to advocate for their family planning needs in the creation and implementation of policy at county and national levels. Santa, Kevin, Felix and Andrew are four of these young people.

Through advocacy, DSW aims to work with stakeholders, including the youth, to mobilize more and better funds from the county governments and the national government for family planning services, especially for young people.

Have you also heard about our Right by Her Campaign? We are working hard to make women’s rights a reality across Africa, focusing on four key areas: SRHR, HIV & AIDS, harmful practices, and gender-based violence. Together with our partners, and our donor the EU, we research the status of inequality, advocate for change, raise awareness, and build the capacity of civil society. To learn more about this project visit: www.rightbyher.org

Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW)

Kenya Youth get a seat in budget making forums

Blog | 22. June 2018

Three young people have been appointed to top budget making organs in Kenya.

Kevin Kocheli (Trans Nzoia County), Felix Magut (Nandi County), and Andrew Wachelon (West Pokot County) will sit in the County Budget and Economic Forums (CBEFs) in their counties for the next five years.

Felix Magut is one of DSW’s family planning youth champions from Nandi County in Kenya

Kevin Kocheli is one of DSW’s family planning youth champions from Trans Nzoia County in Kenya

The county budget and economic forum is designed to function as a financial and economic management think-tank for county government in Kenya.

The forums are supposed to be used by the county governor to identify county priorities and budget for them.

Writing in an opinion piece published in five national newspapers in Kenya in November 2017, DSW’s Kenya country director Evelyn Samba called upon governors across Kenya to make space for youth in County Budget and Economic Forums.

“The youth of Kenya, being the majority population cohort, have an interest and a major stake in all the aspects of the county from the construction of roads to trade and the provision of health services. As they set up their county budget and economic forums, the governors ought to invite the young people to be part of the forums alongside other key stakeholders.” Ms. Samba wrote.

County Budget and Economic Forums are formed and chaired by county governors and includes all the county ministers (County Executive Committee members), and the deputy governor, up to a maximum of 11 members.

An equal number of non-state members, drawn from various organisations, including those representing professionals, business, labour issues, women, persons living with disabilities, the elderly and faith-based groups at the county level.

DSW works with young people in 19 counties in Kenya, empowering them to make their voices heard in decision-making processes at local, national, and global levels.

Since 2016, DSW has trained and supported 400 young people in 11 counties in Kenya to advocate for their family planning needs in the creation and implementation of policy at county and national levels. Kevin, Felix and Andrew are three of these young people.

DSW believes that empowering young people enables them to be their own drivers of change.

Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW)

Kenya

Our team in Kenya

News from Kenya

Learn more about DSW

What is being done locally in Kenya

What we are working on internationally

KENYA: Good progress has been made but let’s not slow down

Was Sie auch interessieren könnte:

The Power of Option Protect the Right to Contraception Choice

I believe youths can influence change on issues affecting them- Chebet Marcelina

DSW Kenya Annual Report 2021 Empowering Young People

Was Sie auch interessieren könnte:

Vaccinations, mosquito nets and money: the fight against malaria continues

The EU Global Health Strategy – an opportunity for the EU to step up its leadership in global health

DSW’s budget analysis: Family planning investment in 11 counties in Kenya

WHAT WE FOUND OUT

WHY THE BUDGET STUDY IS IMPORTANT

Was Sie auch interessieren könnte:

POWER ENTREPRENEUR: ANGEL BABIRYE, US FOR GIRLS

Pioneering youth club member creates “Youth can” App

#YouthCan2020 – Highlights of DSW’s work in Kenya in 2020

Was Sie auch interessieren könnte:

DSW Ethiopia Hosts Parliamentarians to Advocate for ASRH Budget Allocation

DSW Ethiopia’s Y4H Project Coalesces an ASRH Advocacy Workshop

Domestic investments for family planning in Kenya steady

Findings

Methodology

Advocacy for domestic family planning investments

The effect of COVID-19 on family planning investments

Was Sie auch interessieren könnte:

The EU Global Health Strategy – an opportunity for the EU to step up its leadership in global health

DSW Ethiopia’s Y4H Project Coalesces an ASRH Advocacy Workshop

Kenya: While dealing with COVID-19, let us not forget sexual and reproductive healthcare

The effect of COVID-19 on sexual and reproductive healthcare

Funding requirements for sexual and reproductive healthcare

The public healthcare system serves majority of Kenyans

Was Sie auch interessieren könnte:

POWER Entrepreneur: Joan Patience Atuhaire, SimplyFP

I believe youths can influence change on issues affecting them- Chebet Marcelina

Domestic investments for sexual and reproductive health and family planning key in Kenya’s quest to improve health outcomes for the youth

Was Sie auch interessieren könnte:

Active in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Investing in GBV Prevention Makes Economic Sense

Nothing for us without us! Empowering the youth in Kenya to advocate for their family planning needs

Other young people in decision making spaces

Was Sie auch interessieren könnte:

POWER ENTREPRENEUR: ANGEL BABIRYE, US FOR GIRLS

DSW Ethiopia Co-Hosts UNFPA-KOICA Donor Visits

Kenya Youth get a seat in budget making forums

Was Sie auch interessieren könnte:

And the winners are…..

DSW Ethiopia’s Y4H Project Coalesces an ASRH Advocacy Workshop