Background Information

The concept of linking population matters to economic development is not new in Kenya, first it was highlighted in Sessional Paper No. 10 of 1965 on African Socialism and its application to economic planning in Kenya. The Paper noted a link between the country’s population growth rate and its potential for socio-economic development. Consequently, the government formulated a population policy which was adopted in 1967 that culminated to the formation of the National Family Planning Action Programme under the Ministry of Health. The Programme laid great emphasis on the reduction of family size and spacing of children, which was expected to contribute to reduction of the population growth rate.

The National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) was established in 1982, as a department in the Office of the Vice President and Ministry of Home Affairs, to advise on matters pertaining to population and development. The role and mandate of NCPD was contained in Sessional paper No.4 of 1984 on Population Policy Guidelines. This policy paper was later revised and formed the backbone of Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2000 on National Population Policy for Sustainable Development (NPPSD).

NCPD gained the status of a Semi-Autonomous Government Agency (SAGA) in 2004 and the name changed to NCAPD through a Legal Notice No. 120 contained in the Kenya Gazette supplement No. 68. In 2012, NCAPD reverted back to its original name, NCPD, through Legal Notice No. 172 of 2011.

NCPD is a SAGA under the National Treasury and Planning, State Department for Planning.

Who we are

The National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) is a SAGA under the National Treasury and Planning, State Department for Planning. NCPD is charged with the responsibility of promoting and coordinating population and development activities in Kenya.