The Kenya Population and Development Conference 2025 officially opened in Nairobi, bringing together policymakers, researchers, academia, and key stakeholders to discuss the country’s demographic trends and their impact on economic and social planning.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Principal Secretary for Economic Planning, James Muhati, emphasized the government’s commitment to formulating policies that address rapid population growth and its socio-economic implications. He highlighted that the government has adopted a multi-sectoral approach to tackle complex population challenges, making significant progress in improving population and development indicators.
Kenya’s demographic landscape presents both opportunities and challenges, including high population growth, youth unemployment, urbanization, and migration. To manage these issues, the government has implemented policies such as:
Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2023 on Population Policy for Sustainable Development
National Reproductive Health Policy 2022-2032
Kenya Health Policy 2014–2030 and Universal Health Coverage Policy 2020-2030
National Climate Change Framework Policy and the Climate Change Act, 2016
Muhati emphasized that the government is leveraging science, technology, and innovation (ST&I) in demographic planning, using tools like GIS and digital census platforms to support data-driven decision-making.
With a rapidly growing youthful population, Kenya is focusing on initiatives such as revamping TVET institutions to equip youth with employable skills, the Kenya Youth Development Policy (2019) and Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP) , National Employment Authority Act 2016 to enhance job creation and Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) program for youth entrepreneurship
General (Rtd.) Dr. Julius Karangi, Chairperson of the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD), outlined the council’s role in coordinating population and development strategies through research, advocacy, and resource mobilization. He reaffirmed the NCPD Board’s commitment to implementing the Strategic Plan 2023-2027, which aligns with Kenya Vision 2030, EAC Vision 2050, AU Agenda 2063, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Key population issues addressed in the conference include fertility, mortality, migration, urbanization, climate change, gender equality, and human settlements.
In a major announcement, Dr. Mohamed Sheikh, Director General of NCPD, revealed the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Population and Development. The center will leverage technology, research, and innovation to support sustainable population management.
Dr. Sheikh also emphasized the importance of aligning Kenya’s strategies with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and global platforms like the 58th Session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) in April 2025.
He acknowledged the financial and technical support from key partners such as UNFPA, APHRC, and PS Kenya, and announced that the Kenya Population and Development Conference will now be held biennially to assess progress and address emerging challenges.
The conference aims to bridge the gap between policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders, fostering informed decision-making for sustainable development. Leaders at the event called for enhanced collaboration to ensure the effective implementation of Kenya’s population policies, promoting economic growth and social well-being.
The deliberations from this year’s event are expected to shape future policy directions, ensuring Kenya’s population growth aligns with sustainable development goals.