Kenya has registered considerable progress in the management of her population despite the Covid-19 pandemic as revealed during the second Anniversary of the Nairobi Summit on International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25).
During the summit, the 2020/2021 Financial Year Progress Report on the implementation of the ICPD25, Kenya Country Commitments was launched.
In 2019 during the inaugural summit, President Uhuru Kenyatta, made 17 commitments, on behalf of the country, to advance the goals of the ICPD program of action and progress as evidenced in the Report.
National Treasury and Planning Cabinet Secretary (CS), Ukur Yatani, in a speech read on his behalf by Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS), Simiyu Wafukho, said Kenya has made key achievements, among them finalization of negotiations of Bilateral Labour Migration Agreements with the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.
“We have also completed and put in operation 119 new TVET institutions and commenced the Process of integrating the ICPD25 indicators on a digital platform, to ease monitoring and reporting,” said the CS.
Yatani added that the government has reviewed the Population Policy for National Development (PPND) and the Kenya Demographic Dividend Roadmap.
Other achievements, CS noted are: Operationalization of the National Social Protection Steering Committee, registering of over 348,000 new members to the National Social Security Fund and capacity-building of 142 Institutions on provision of quality and timely data for decision making.
“The Government has also strengthened all County Gender Technical Working Groups and Provided 272 advisories to various institutions on opportunities for promoting gender equality and freedom from discrimination,” Yatani added.
The CS, however, pointed out that great work lies ahead of the nation and called upon all the implementing and Development Partners to double their efforts and rally all the support required, towards realizing the promises to achieve the 17 commitments.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) representative in Kenya, Dr. Ademola Olajide, commended President Uhuru Kenyatta for the leadership he has continued to provide, ensuring that all government institutions focus on putting people at the centre of development.
“The Ministry of Gender, continues to promote gender equality, protection of women and girls from Gender Based Violence (GBV) and harmful practices,” said Olajide.
The CAS, Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs, Nadia Abdalla, revealed that so far, 55,329 youth have received training and internship in both the formal and informal sector out of whom 75 per cent have secured employment, 74,143 youth have received Business grants capital support amounting to Sh. 966,840,000, which has secured 87 per cent job opportunities for themselves and other youth.
“We look forward to your continued commitment to work with like-minded stakeholders to support the realization of all the commitments by 2030,” said Abdalla.
She thanked the stakeholders for their commitment to support the realization of the 17 Kenya commitments and reiterated the commitment of the State Department to the continued implementation of the ICPD25 commitments up to 2030.
By Catherine Muindi and Brightus Grace
