The implementation of national commitments made during the Nairobi Summit on the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPPD25) is on track but will require refined strategies to maintain momentum amidst emerging challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic and climate-related issues. This is according to a new report released by the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) which tracks and monitors the implementation of 17 commitments made by President Uhuru Kenyatta during the summit. They include pledges on access to sexual and reproductive health services, universal education, promoting gender equity, harnessing the demographic dividend, and financing for population programmes.
80 year old Mzee Samson Nzele travelled more than 500 Kilometres from the coastal town of Kilifi to the capital city Nairobi to attend celebrations held to mark the second anniversary of the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25. As a beneficiary of the government-run Inua Jamii Programme, he has received monthly cash transfers that have enabled him to buy livestock for his upkeep and pay his medical bills. During the 2020/21 period, more than one million vulnerable citizens benefited from the government cash transfer programme channeled to older persons, persons with disabilities, orphans, and vulnerable children.
“In the year 2021/22 the government plans to continue supporting 1,233,219 households with cash transfer programmes targeted at the vulnerable in our society as part of the ICPD25 commitment on increasing social protection investments,” said Hon. Beatrice Elachi, Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Public Service, Gender, Senior Citizens Affairs and Special Programmes. “My hope is that more elderly people above the age of 70 are enrolled in this programme so they too can receive the support they need,” said Mzee Samson.
Representatives from various government ministries presented scorecards on achievements made over the last year, towards the ICPD25 commitments.On the commitment to eliminate all forms of gender-based violence, including child and forced marriages by 2030, all 47 counties reported strengthened prevention and response mechanisms through training and sensitization activities carried out amongst community members, medical practitioners, judicial system players, and law enforcement officers. Three landmark declarations were made by elders from the Samburu, Gabra, and Pokot communities in support of the abolishment of FGM.
The second anniversary report further showed that more than 1,662 pregnant and parenting girls in Homa Bay and Narok counties were supported to return to school through the 4T (Trace, Track, Talk and return To school) initiative. “We note that the country is on course to fulfill the ICPD25 commitments. Government agencies, civil society, and development partners have contributed significantly to the progress achieved,” said Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) National Treasury and Planning Mr Eric Wafukho
On the commitment to attain basic universal education, substantial progress was reported during this period, including the recruitment of 10,000 teachers through the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), as well as school infrastructure improvement in more than 5,000 public schools across the country.Gains were also reported in harnessing the demographic dividend and the empowerment of young people, with more than 200,000 youth benefitting from government programs on entrepreneurship, skills training, education, internship and employment opportunities.
UNFPA Representative Dr. Ademola Olajide commended partners on the work done over the last two years towards achieving the ICPD25 commitments. “We are proud to see more women and girls benefiting from projects initiated in efforts to realize these commitments. As we move ahead, we must be careful to avoid illusion of averages that continue to mask vulnerabilities experienced by segments of our population and ensure that everyone is counted and accounted for,” said Dr. Olajide.
Addressing participants at the anniversary event, National Council on Population and Development (NCPD) Board Chair Hon. David Ngugi added that the work continues to ensure Kenya’s commitments are fully implemented. “We intend to work even more closely with all stakeholders including the Council of Governors, civil society, and the media to ensure that our promise to women and girls is fulfilled.”
Kenya was among the United Nations member states who committed to advance the goals of the ICPD Plan of Action aimed at ending all preventable maternal deaths, unmet need for family planning and gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls by 2030. In November 2019, 8,277 delegates from 186 countries gathered in Nairobi to recommit to the goals set forth at the ICPD, at the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25. President Uhuru Kenyatta presented Kenya’s seventeen (17) points commitment to the international community gathered at the Summit in Nairobi.
