Meet Joel Omiyo, a Trailblazing Youth Advocate Transforming SRHR in Kenya

At just 25 years old, Joel Omiyo has emerged as a powerhouse in championing for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Kenya. As a youth advocate, he has tirelessly called for improved access to sexuality education, youth-friendly services, and gender-responsive policies, across the region.

Joel’s interest in advocacy started when he was 18 years old. Growing up in Mombasa, Kenya, he experienced firsthand how silence, ignorance, and a lack of access to information limit young people’s opportunities and well-being.

“My passion for advocacy started when the Ministry of Health recorded alarming numbers on teen pregnancies in Kenya, and from the data, the youngest was 9 years, and was from my community (Jomvu). The gaps between the systems and the real people’s needs pushed me to speak up and create the change I want to see.” he says.

Armed with this information, he co-founded SEYA Youth Organisation and started off as the Programs Lead. He amplified the voices of young people, and later created a Youth Empowerment Centre in Jomvu Subcounty.

When the opportunity to be YSW youth champion arose, he took it up. He worked in budget advocacy alongside policy makers to advocate for the creation of six youth friendly centres and the integration of youth friendly services in all health facilities in Mombasa. He also advocated for a dedicated budget for AYP/SRH sensitisation, resulting in the county government allocating funds for such programs.

He later founded the Marafiki Network, serving as Team Lead, driving innovative solutions to SRHR challenges. His leadership reached new heights in 2022 as the National Chairperson for YSW Youth Advocates, where he spearheaded advocacy for national and county-level SRHR policies, including AYSRH Strategy 2024-2028 and the Mombasa County GBV Strategic Plan 2022-2027.

Closer home, his role in Technical Working Groups and the Youth Advisory Council under Mombasa’s County Health Management Team, where represents young people, has given him a platform to shape health policies at both county and national levels.

“Young people understand their realities better than anyone else; we live the daily emerging trends and challenges, limited access to youth-friendly services, socio-economic challenges. We deserve to sit in the spaces that talk about our health rights, sit with policy makers on equal terms, and address our challenges,” he says.

As the Founder of Marafiki Network, he represented Kenya at the Choice Connectors Week in Benin, where he led sessions on meaningful youth participation and sustainability. Globally, he took part in the World Health Summit, engaging with health leaders on strengthening health systems, advancing SRHR, and promoting youth participation. He also joined the European Week of Action for Girls, advocating for girls’ rights, health, and greater investment in youth leadership.

For the future, Joel wants to invest in learning and leadership development to influence systems more and create more impact, especially for young people.

“I also want to lead programs and strengthen youth networks, and explore solutions in the digital spaces and social media to create awareness on different health- related challenges young people face as I continue working to create more inclusive spaces and youth empowerment centres,” he says in conclusion.