The government should invest in sexual and reproductive health for the youth

According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 60% of the Kenyan population is young people below the age of 24 years. This means that we cannot ignore them or their needs at all because they are the future of this nation. Any development agenda in Kenya must address their needs including sexual and reproductive health as part of accomplishing the sustainable development goals.

In Kenya, 44% of adolescents have never heard about any contraceptive method. Young people below the age of 24 years account for 70% of all the pregnancies in Kenya and these pregnancies are usually unintended. Furthermore unsafe abortions and complications during pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death for 15 to19-year-old girls. Moreover young people account for 29% of all new HIV infections and 16% of all people in need of ART are adolescents and the youth.