Health professionals and youth advocates are calling on the government to review Kenya’s age of consent laws to allow adolescents better access to contraceptives.
The call was made during the 8th Pan-African Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Scientific Conference, held this week in Mombasa.
Speaking during the event, Beverline Anyango Polet, a reproductive health nurse specialist and board member at the Reproductive Health Network, highlighted the contradiction faced by healthcare providers who are required by law to deny contraceptives to adolescents under 18, even when the young people are sexually active and at risk.
“When an adolescent comes for family planning, we are told they must get parental consent, yet the law says only those above 18 can give consent,” said Polet. “So what happens to the 15-year-old who is sexually active? Are we going to deny them the contraceptives they need?”
Polet emphasized that these legal restrictions are putting both young people and healthcare providers in a dilemma—torn between following the law and acting in the best interest of their patients. She further decried the stigma young girls face when seeking contraceptive services, often being judged or turned away, which discourages them from returning.
“We end up with teenage pregnancies, and what follows is often unsafe abortion. We need to remove the legal and social barriers so that a young person who feels they need contraceptives can access them freely and safely,” she said.
She also called on the legal community to protect healthcare workers who provide such services, noting that they do so with the necessary knowledge and professionalism.
Adding his voice to the debate, Allan Maleche, one of the conference organizers and Executive Director of KELIN (Kenya Legal & Ethical Issues Network), stressed that the issue of access should not be strictly about age, but about context.
“Is the young person sexually active? Are they at risk of sexual violence? Do they have access to the right information to make informed choices?” Maleche posed. “We need laws and policies that recognize these realities and support youth to make informed decisions.”
Maleche urged both national and county governments to ensure proper education, funding, and access to reproductive health services—especially in a time when donor support is dwindling. He also called for the strengthening of judicial systems to deliver justice in cases of sexual assault and exploitation.
“It’s not enough to talk about abstinence. We need to create an environment where young people have the tools and support to protect themselves—whether that’s through information, services, or legal safeguards,” he added.
Both speakers emphasized the importance of involving youth in these conversations.
“There’s nothing for them without them,” Polet said, insisting that youth voices must be central in policy development.
The 8th Conference brought together youth, civil society actors, healthcare providers, legal experts, and policymakers to address urgent issues around adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health.