The Kenya government has since independence recognised that population management is key in realization of sustained socio-economic development. Over time the Government has developed a number of population policies, strategies and programmes to address population management challenges. This Population Policy for National Development succeeds Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2000 on National Population Policy for Sustainable Development which guided implementation of population programmes up to 2010. It recognises and puts into consideration international and national emerging and continuing population concerns. This Policy will contribute to the realization of Kenya Vision 2030 as it aims to attain high quality of life for the people of Kenya by managing population growth to a level that can be sustained with the available resources.
The development of this Policy underwent different stages and is based on collated views from consultations with stakeholders at the grassroot, regional and national levels. A first draft was developed and presented for discussion to a cross-section of Kenyan during a National Leaders Conference on Population and Development in November 2010. The draft Policy was then refined and presented to Members of Parliament during a Parliamentary Retreat in Mombasa in July, 2011 for further discussion. The Parliamentary Retreat Report was developed and shared with the Chairs of Parliamentary Committees in September, 2011 to ensure that the major policy issues were captured. The MPs’ inputs from these sessions further informed the finalisation of the Policy.
This lengthy process was crucial as it involved leaders and stakeholders across the diverse views and opinions. The consultations resulted in an all-inclusive Population Policy for National Development that will guide the implementation of population programmes which will contribute to the realization of Vision 2030, the 2010 Kenya Constitution and other international and national aspirations.
This Sessional Paper covers the following broad areas: population structures and vulnerable groups; population and socio-economic Development, Planning and Environmental sustainability; Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights; Education, Science and Technology; Gender equity, Equality and women empowerment, and Morbidity and Mortality. It should be noted that this Sessional Paper cuts across all the sectors and provide a framework that will guide national population programmes and activities for the next two decades. The implementation of programmes and projects as proposed in this Sessional Paper calls for a multi-sectoral approach from all the stakeholders.
Hon. Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, E.G.H, MP.
Minister of State for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030