Budget studies show county SRHR Progress

Counties are making measurable strides in prioritising Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRHR), as revealed in recent budget studies developed by YSW under the Youth for Health project.

Dissemination and validation meetings in West Pokot and Kwale counties offered a critical opportunity for stakeholders to assess progress, strengthen accountability, and shape future investments in ASRHR.

Findings from West Pokot revealed a steady increase in health budget allocations, rising from KES 118 million in FY 2022/23 to KES 125.5 million in FY 2024/25. However, the portion dedicated specifically to ASRHR remains limited. Notably, FY 2023/24 still did not have a dedicated ASRHR budget line, raising concerns about internal prioritization.

Encouragingly, six out of seven recommendations from the study were adopted by the county government. These included commitments to enact the Facility Improvement Financing Act to increasing allocations to health facilities, recruit more health workers to address staffing shortages, and digitise procurement systems to reduce stockouts. The County Department of Health also pledged to harmonise local ASRHR strategies with national policy frameworks.

In Kwale County, the budget study findings showed significant growth in both SRHR and ASRHR allocations over the past three fiscal years. SRHR funding rose by 40%, from KES 347.2 million in FY 2022/23 to KES 487.1 million in FY 2024/25, while ASRHR allocations grew by 61%, from KES 100.7 million to KES 162.3 million. This positive trend signals strong political will to prioritize youth-friendly services and reproductive health.

Recommendations focused on boosting funding for commodities, strengthening supply chain and forecasting systems, and incorporating legal literacy into youth programming. The forum also emphasized the need for culturally sensitive strategies to reduce stigma, increased investment in health infrastructure, and balanced financing for both recurrent costs and development.

Youth for Health is co-funded by the European Union.