Bridging the Gap: An Advocacy Perspective on the State of SRHR in Kenya

Posted by Doddy Collince OKelo on 24-Feb-2026

Think of the ghettos, the informal settlements, and the marginalized communities of our nation. Let’s talk of Kibera, Mathare, Korokocho, Kayole, and the likes where the weight of poverty forces some mothers to view their female children as currency, sometimes trading their dignity for a twenty-shilling jerrycan of water just to survive. Think of the interior of Narok, where the sunset often meets a girl who is told she is never too young to be a bride. It is a heart-breaking reality where childhood is bartered for basic needs and tradition overrides agency. In these spaces, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) is the compass that determines whether our youth will get through toward empowerment or remain grounded by systemic barriers. While the Economic Survey 2025 brings a flicker of hope, showing a 4.8% decline in adolescent pregnancies for those aged 10–19, the numbers still tell a story of urgency. With over 241,000 young lives impacted in a single year, and counties like Narok and Meru reporting that nearly 20% of all registered births belong to teenagers, we are at a crossroads. Furthermore, the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) recently flagged a slight, concerning uptick in new infections of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among adolescents in 2024. These statistics are a cry for help from the shadows of our society.

To understand the depth of this crisis, we must first define the framework of SRHR as a fundamental human right. It is a comprehensive system designed to ensure that every individual has access to quality health services, education, and the absolute freedom to make bodily decisions without discrimination, coercion, or violence. Sexual and Reproductive Health involves more than the absence of disease; it is the state of complete physical and mental well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system. This requires universal access to contraception, safe pregnancy and childbirth services, and the robust prevention and treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Parallel to this are Sexual and Reproductive Rights, which protect bodily autonomy, privacy, and equality. The ultimate goal is to enable individuals to achieve the highest attainable standard of health, including the ability to choose if, when, and with whom to have children. This necessitates a life-course approach that begins in infancy and protects the individual through the vulnerable years of adolescence into adulthood, with a specific focus on those marginalized by geography or economy.

Bridging the gap between high-level policy and grassroots reality requires listening to those on the frontlines, such as Yvonne Mukui, a passionate SRHR advocate and Founder of Giving Light. As a Fellow of both Cool Czechia and Forum 2000, Yvonne brings a global lens to these local struggles. In her professional experience, access remains the primary hurdle. In informal settlements, the choice is often non-existent. Young people must weigh the cost of a reproductive health check-up against the cost of a meal. When facilities do exist, they are rarely youth-friendly. Many lack the privacy required for sensitive consultations, and staff are often not trained to provide non-judgmental care. This lack of safe spaces pushes young people toward adverse measures, unregulated providers, or dangerous misinformation found through peers and unreliable online sources.

The impact of poverty on these rights is devastating and multifaceted. Period poverty, for instance, is not merely a lack of sanitary products; it is a barrier to education and dignity that forces girls to resort to unsafe alternatives. Financial hardship further increases vulnerability to transactional sex, which directly correlates to the rising cases of early pregnancies and the spread of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). When these young women find themselves pregnant and without resources, the lack of money and accurate information pushes them toward unsafe and unregulated abortion providers. Even though the Ministry of Education has supported teenage mothers returning to school, a massive margin remains between those who deliver and those who continue their education, largely due to the crushing weight of stigma and the inability to afford school costs.

These systemic issues are reinforced by deep-seated cultural and religious myths. Kalutu Ndululu, also, a  SRHR advocate and co-author of the advocacy toolkit My Voice Counts, emphasizes that the battle is often fought against entrenched social taboos. She points out that the shame surrounding menstruation and contraception often silences young people before they can even ask for help. In many communities, the belief that contraceptives cause permanent infertility or that discussing sexuality promotes immorality is still widespread. Religious institutions often play a dual role; while providing community support, Kalutu notes that some faiths actively discourage modern family planning, viewing SRHR as a Western concept that contradicts traditional values. Culturally, rigid gender roles limit a woman's autonomy and decision-making power, while traditional practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) continue to leave lasting physical and psychological scars. This shame culture creates a wall of silence where parents avoid conversations about sexuality, leaving young men and boys to rely on harmful gender norms and risky behaviours to define their identity.

The path forward requires more than policy documents. While the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy provides a theoretical guide, its implementation is dangerously inconsistent, particularly in rural areas. There is a glaring gap between the policy and reality. To close this gap, the government must fully fund and enforce policies, civil society must continue to educate and advocate, and the media must be a vessel for fact-based information. Practical steps include subsidizing reproductive health products and establishing highly visible, non-judgmental service stations that are known to the youth, rather than tucked away in discrete, intimidating corners of hospitals.

Ultimately, the transformation of Kenya’s SRHR landscape depends on the integration of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and the active involvement of men and boys in challenging harmful norms. Schools that have implemented CSE report fewer teen pregnancies and better decision-making among learners, proving that knowledge is the most effective vaccine against exploitation. Digital platforms must be used responsibly to fight misinformation with facts. As we look toward the future, the message to young people is: your health is your right. Kenya’s potential is tied to the health of its youth, and it is time to ensure that no child’s future is traded for a jerrycan of water or a wedding ring.

@Doddyokelo