Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2023 on Population Policy for Sustainable Development in Kenya
On 14th October, 2023 Parliament passed the Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2023 on Kenya National Population Policy for sustainable Development. This Policy provides a provides a strategic, harmonized and comprehensive framework aimed at addressing prevailing and emerging demographic challenges while promoting sustainable development.
Key aspects covered include; Demographic Data and Analysis – an overview of current demographic trends in Kenya, and these include 6 thematic areas; population size, growth and age structure, fertility, Morbidity and Mortality, Mobility, Migration and Urbanization, Population, Human Settlement, Environment and Disasters, Data, Research and Innovation and regional variations
The other aspects of this policy include the Goal and Objectives: – “To attain a high quality of life for the population of Kenya” and sets targets for fertility rates, maternal and child health, access to family planning services, education on reproductive health, and gender equality. Strategies and Interventions, Implementation Framework, Monitoring and Evaluation and Policy Alignment with other national development strategies and frameworks, such as Kenya Vision 2030 or the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring coherence and synergy in national development efforts.
This Population policy for Sustainable Development was launched at the national level in June 6th 2024 and thereafter county dissemination forums started across all the 47 counties.
The first phase of county disseminations is ongoing and some of the already done counties include; South Region – Samburu, Baringo and Nakuru counties, Eastern South region – Machakos, Makueni and Kitui counties and North Eastern region, Madera County.
