As Kenya commemorates World Contraception Day (WCD) 2024, health experts are raising concerns over the inadequate domestic funding for family planning programs, which threatens the country’s progress toward achieving universal reproductive health access.
According to the Ministry of Health, Kenya has made significant strides in improving access to modern contraceptive methods. As of 2022, 57% of married women were using modern contraceptives, up from 32% in 2003. Despite these gains, unmet needs persist, with 14% of Kenyan women who wish to delay or avoid pregnancy still unable to access contraception.
While the Kenyan government has set an ambitious goal of increasing modern contraceptive use to 66% by 2030, in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.7, achieving this target requires overcoming several barriers. Chief among them is the continued heavy reliance on international development partners for funding family planning programs, despite strategic calls for increased domestic investment.
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