Kenya to Host 8th Pan-African Youth Reproductive Health Conference Amid Urgent Call for Integrated Development Approaches

Prof.Joachim Osur, ViceChancellor, Amref International University.

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 22, 2025.

Kenya is set to host the 8th Pan-African Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Conference in June, in what is expected to be a pivotal platform for advancing youth-centered health and development across the continent.

Speaking during a media breakfast organized by the Reproductive Health Network Kenya (RHNK) at Nairobi’s Fairview Hotel, Dr. Mohamed Sheikh, Director General of the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD), emphasized the critical role of young people in shaping Africa’s future, and the pressing need to address their sexual and reproductive health needs.

“We face a dual reality: a serious challenge and an equally powerful opportunity in handling our youthful population,” said Dr. Sheikh. Citing data from the latest Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, he noted that one in six teenage girls experiences pregnancy, and one in five women aged 15 to 49 has an unmet need for family planning.

With youth aged 10 to 24 making up 35% of Kenya’s population, Dr. Sheikh called for bold, integrated strategies that link population dynamics, health outcomes, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. He advocated for a “PHED” approach, Population, Health, Environment, and Development, to be embedded into national planning and policy.

Adding to this, Nelly Munyasia, Executive Director of RHNK, underscored the significance of the upcoming event. “The 8th RHNK Pan-African AYSRHR Conference is a rallying point for Africa’s youth and those who work alongside them,” she said. “We’re building a united front to ensure every young person has access to the health services, education, and support they need to thrive in an increasingly complex world.”

The conference, to be held from June 23–27, 2025, at Whitesands Hotel in Mombasa, will feature: High-level plenaries and scientific sessions, youth-led innovations and inter-generational forums, policy round-tables and regional dialogues, networking and cross-sectoral partnership opportunities.

Dr. Sheikh also appealed to the media to play a more active role in shaping public discourse. “Your voice, your commitment, and your advocacy are vital,” he said. “Together, let’s ensure every young person in Kenya, and across Africa, has the chance not just to survive, but to thrive, contribute, and lead.”

The conference is expected to draw hundreds of participants from across the continent and is seen as a key step in aligning national and regional youth health priorities with global goals such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

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