Family planning plays a critical role in Kenya’s overall development, which is under increasing strain from rapid population growth, environmental pressures and resource constraints on communities and individuals. Family planning programmes empower women and girls to take greater control of their lives and bodies. Family planning also contributes significantly to reducing maternal mortality from unwanted and unsafe pregnancies, which is a national health priority in Kenya.

The Division of Reproductive Health (DRH) of the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation (MOPHS) plays a critical leadership role in Kenya’s national family planning programme through the following:

  • Supporting the development of national family planning strategies and guidelines to ensure that high-quality family planning services are available to Kenyans nationwide
  • Providing technical leadership on reproductive issues in Kenya through a commonly agreed-upon framework and standards that govern Kenya’s family planning activities at hospitals, health facilities and in communities — even for the most difficult to reach populations, such as people with disabilities, internally displaced persons and nomadic communities
  • Prioritizing actions and interventions to better meet Kenya’s need for family planning through increased access to all methods of family planning, particularly modern methods

DRH works with MOPHS, other government of Kenya departments and development partners to better manage commodities and logistics to ensure a consistent supply of all modern family planning methods throughout the country, thereby giving women the greatest choice possible. DRH also works with its partners to provide family planning services through a variety of health facilities and other methods to its hard-to-reach communities.

Together with the National Coordinating Agency for Population and Development, DRH plays a critical role in advocating for greater allocation of resources for family planning in Kenya through ongoing dialogue and engagement with members of parliament, partners, donors and the private sector.

Key Family Planning Policies, Strategies, Guidelines and Tools
To guide the provision of family planning services in Kenya, DRH has developed several policies, strategies, service provider guidelines and tools. Read more.

Reproductive Health Policies and Strategies

Status of Family Planning in Kenya
To learn more about the unmet need for and benefits of family planning, click here.

 

Family Planning Policies, Strategies, Guidelines and Tools (5 resources)

Family planning is a central pillar of Kenya’s reproductive health programme and wider national health priorities as outlined in the Second National Health Sector Strategic Plan (2005–2010)

    Status of Family Planning in Kenya

    Family planning in Kenya has been increasing steadily over recent years. The Government of Kenya and its health partners have integrated family planning programmes with wider reproductive health and HIV/AIDS activities as a proven and cost-effective way of providing better health services and care to women, men and youths.