2009 Kenya Population and Housing Census “Counting Our People for Implementation of Vision 2030” Volume V Fertility and Nuptiality

Abstract

Kenya experienced rapid fertility increase during the 1960s and 1970s, attaining the highest Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 8.0 in 1979. The increase was attributed to improvement in the standard of living, low contraceptive use, low age at marriage, and cultural norms and practices that encouraged child bearing. These demographic trends enhanced rapid population growth rate, with concomitant development challenges to the Government in provision of basic needs and services. The situation was compounded by the introduction of structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) in the 1980s. The Government, realizing the adverse consequences of rapid population growth on the economy, initiated several strategies to address the issue. An integrated National Population Policy for Sustainable Development was launched in a Sessional Paper of 1996. The policy promoted several programmes such as Reproductive Health, Maternal and Child Health Care and Family Planning (MCH/FP). More importantly, the policy outlined national population goals, objectives and targets to be achieved by population programmes up to the year 2010 (CBS, 2002). The achievements of these programmes are reflected by the 2009 Census data on fertility and nuptiality.