The general election is just around the corner and some previously elected leaders are anxious.
They now have to convince the people that they are good for another term.
That the goals they set which were community focused, can or have been achieved.
However, what have your leaders done to help people in all diversities have access to sexual reproductive health?
There are leaders, who have held their seats for almost a decade and have done nothing to push for the agenda of access to sexual and reproductive health rights.
These rights are universal and not limited to a gender or an age group.
It affects and cuts across all communities worldwide.
Some seating leaders push for policies and the implementation of accessibility to these rights.
They recognise and acknowledge the importance of everyone having them.
So what happens if these leaders aren’t voted back or have to retire?
Will the next elected leader push for the agenda of these rights or will the said agendas retire with the leaders?
On October 18, 2016, the President launched the free maternity care programme (Linda Mama) that was intended to provide quality maternal care to mothers, infants as well and health caregivers.
This waiver on maternal care saw an increase in institutional deliveries by up to 22 per cent between 2013 and 2015 according to the African Population and Health Research Center.
The case of the woman who was sexually assaulted by boda boda riders on Forest road led to a temporary restriction on the operations of the riders by the President.
The chief justice also recently launched a special court in Shanzu to handle SGBV cases to enable fair hearings for survivors.
These are wins for the SRH space that need to exist beyond a leader’s term(s) of service.
We need leaders who remember that not everyone can read and write or understand but still need access to the same health rights as the people who can.
Leaders represent everyone.
The sexual and reproductive health space has a long way to go for it to grow.
Vote in leaders that recognise that and will continue to contribute towards its wins.
It is an injustice to the people if reproductive health rights are ignored.
Medical administrator at Reproductive health network Kenya
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
