Lobbies fault CS Kuria on family planning remarks 

Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has kicked off a storm after describing birth control efforts as “misguided”, attracting criticism from family planning advocates.

Kuria, who is not new to controversy, took issue with family planning programmes arguing that families should be given the option of growing without control.

His comments come against the background of an increase in cases of teenage pregnancies, HIV infections and Gender-Based Violence, according to two government agencies tackling population and syndemic diseases.

Wealthy countries

While officiating the opening of the Kenya International Investment Conference in Nairobi, Kuria said wealthy countries — such as the G20 nations — were thriving because of their population and not the resources at their disposal. 

“I think they misled us because today when you look at G20 countries, half of them are there not because of industrial power or resources but because of just population,” he told the trade gathering.

The CS picked Indonesia — which he visited recently — as an example, arguing that the Asian nation is ranked at number 15 among economic giants in the world with Sh248 trillion economy, which is equivalent to the entire Africa’s wealth.

According to him, Indonesia is where it is in development because it has made the best use of its 300 million people. “So let us embrace population; let nobody come again with that kind of misguided programme of kupanga uzazi because by now you know even Kenya could be in G20 were it not for those people who came and gave us that kupanga uzazi idea.”

His controversial remarks however, drew immediate criticism with family planning advocates describing him as ill-advised and one who is expressing opinions on matters he doesn’t understand.

An official of the National Council for Population and development (NCPD) who sought anonymity said Indonesia for instance, the fourth most populous nation in the world after China, India and the United States, put in place radical family planning programmes that saw it succeed in reducing the birth rate.

“Under President Suharto many different kinds of family planning programmes were allowed to be set up... Condom factories were opened and local supermarket style family planing centers were established,” said the official, noting that the country’s clinics were opened that provided free contraceptives.

“Two children are enough” slogans were placed on billboards across the country. There were no draconian one-child laws like in China or sterilisation clinics like in India,” the official further stated.

The official also said that the programmes were wholesome as they encouraged education for all, and every Wednesday, one day in a week Chief’s Barazas to discuss children who had become pregnant and why.

Data shows that between the 1970s and 1990s, years, contraceptive use increased from 10 per cent per couple to 50 per cent in Indonesia, and as a result, the average family size fell by a third to four children per couple in the 1980s.

Kuria’s remarks are coming at a time when efforts have been accelerated to ensure the country attains accessible, equitable and quality family planning services with zero unmet needs by 2030.

Health experts warn that failure to control the population now is likely to make the government take care of the negative impact of population explosion in the immediate future.

President William Ruto is on record while on a visit of Nyadarua County where he encouraged women in Njambini to embrace family planning after reports that the area was leading in births.

Cushion women

He acknowledged the government had come up with the free maternity programme popularly known as Linda Mama to cushion women from hospital expenses but said they should give birth in moderation.

Last week, the The National Syndemic Disease Control Council cautioned that slum areas in Nairobi are facing an increase in cases of HIV infections, sexual and gender-based violence, and teenage pregnancies.

For instance, the Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ruth Masha, 4.7 per cent of HIV infections and 5 percent of early pregnancies in Nairobi, come from Embakasi North constituency, with high numbers also recorded in Dandora.