Kenya: Family Planning Use Falls to 61% Among Married Women in Kenya - KNBS

What the report says

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics has released new findings showing a slight decline in family planning use among married women in Kenya, according to reporting published by Capital FM and distributed by AllAfrica. The 2025/2026 Kenya Mini Demographic and Health Survey found that 61% of married women aged 15 to 49 were using at least one family planning method, down from 63% in the 2022 survey.

The report said modern contraceptive use among married women also edged down, from 57% to 56%, while implant use rose from 19% to 23%, suggesting a change in preferred methods. Among sexually active unmarried women, 61% were using at least one family planning method and 53% were relying on modern contraceptives.

KNBS officials said the updated data is meant to support reproductive health planning at both national and county levels. The World Health Organization’s representative in Kenya, Neema Kimambo, said the figures can help policymakers direct resources toward services and communities that face barriers to access.

The findings matter because they offer a recent snapshot of contraceptive uptake in Kenya and may guide efforts to strengthen family planning programs and improve access to reproductive healthcare. As with any survey-based health data, the results are best read alongside broader trends in service availability, education and affordability.