Progress Towards Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Kenya

Between 1992 and 2015, the recognition of numerous commonalities in most countries with respect to poverty, hunger, peace, unemployment, environmental concerns, diverse actors and disjointed interventions, contributed to increased vulnerabilities and persistent crises within and among countries. Duly, Heads of States and Government under the United Nations (UN) umbrella held a series on international conferences across the globe to significantly address these matters.

In September 2000, UN Member States unanimously adopted a joint declaration at the Millennium Summit at UN Headquarters, prioritizing eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce extreme poverty by 2015. Progressive reviews and challenges emanating from such efforts culminated into further joint aspirations for a common goal that ensures promotion of an economic, social and environmentally sustainable future for our planet for present and future generations, also referred to as the Rio Declaration[1] “ future we want” vision. 

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development commitment was adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, providing a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets, which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership[2]. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. 

In the period 2013-14, the world entrusted Kenya and Hungary with co-facilitation of the international negotiation process that created the global SDGs. As such, Kenya is a signatory of the aforementioned international 2030 Agenda and has previously offered impressive leadership in enabling SDGs processes, to which it was appointed during the 71st session of UN General Assembly to co-facilitate the 2030 UN agenda design process with Ireland[3].

For the period between 2015 and 2024, Kenya has been periodically submitting Voluntary National Review (VNR) Country Reports, the first in 2017 and second in 2020. The latest one (2024) indicates that “Poverty levels in the country declined to 39.8 per cent in 2022 from 42.9 per cent in 2020 as Government prioritized investments in enhancing social safety nets, education and healthcare, leading to improved access and quality of services[4].” A situation that is highly disproportionate to public sentiments gathering recent heightened levels of citizen agitations to rising cost of living[5].  

Government commitments to increase forest cover by planting 15 billion trees by 2032, as well as strides to promote renewable energy with over 75 per cent of Kenyan households connected to electricity, are all efforts geared towards addressing adverse effects of climate change. On inclusion, whilst the country is committed to implementing initiatives that ensure “no one is left behind”, progress made in advancing gender equality and social inclusion, are affected by deep rooted cultural and structural barriers that persist, hindering the full potential and representation of marginalized groups. A similar CSO-VNR 2024, highlights and validates these issues[6]. Concerted efforts are thus required to address discriminatory practices and ensure equal opportunities for all. 

During this year’s (March 2025) People’s Dialogue Festival (PDF) in Nairobi, Mzalendo Trust convened a session where Citizens, Government and Parliament Representatives, Civil Society, Development Partners, Students and Practitioners converged to dialogue and interrogate the status of achievement of SDGs and the various parliamentary initiatives that can be derived for international, national or local action.

In the session Mr. Festus Wangwe a Government Representative from the State Department of Economic Planning and Directorate of SDGs Coordination noted that “Kenya has registered mixed results across the 17 SDGs. It experienced stagnation and regression than it’s realized achievement of SDGs!” Per the 2024 VNR, there is general improvement in access to healthcare services, basic services (water and sanitation, hygiene, and electricity), and school enrolment and completion rate with gender parity attained at all levels. However, poverty among the rural population, and under-nourishment and general food insecurity worsened.

Mr. Wangwe’s statement was further corroborated by Ms. Kirsten Brosbol, a former Danish Minister for Environment and Parliamentarian, and the founder of Danish do-tank 2030Beyond stating that, “In Denmark, achievement of SDGs 12 and 13 have somewhat regressed; air pollution, plastic and electronic waste as well as use of fossil fuels are major attributed triggers to the decline. We are yet to find a way to deal with responsible consumption and production”. This is equally indicated in the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) “Sustainable Development Report” that has a dashboard that tracks SDG implementation country to country[7].

In further co-relation, according to the UN Annual SDG Progress Report of 2024, the world is severely off-track to achieve Agenda 2030. Out of 135 targets with trend data and additional insights from custodian agencies, only 17% are progressing as expected to be achieved by 2030. Nearly half (48%) exhibit moderate to severe deviations from the desired trajectory, with 30% showing marginal progress and 18% indicating moderate progress. Alarmingly, 18% have stagnated, and 17% have regressed below 2015 baseline levels. 

The Chairperson of Kenya’s Parliamentary SDGs Caucus, Hon. Gideon Ochanda during the session stated that the institution has been keen on identifying, monitoring and aligning itself with legislative and budgetary sectoral proposals that touch on SDGs. He additionally indicated that the Caucus has had good relations with the Government Departments that plan and coordinate SDGs, as well as with CSOs in the space. “At the national level, coordination is working seamlessly, however, at the local level if localization in the form of addressing knowledge gap barriers on SDGs amongst the public is not prioritized, realization of SDGs shall prove problematic... There is need for increased collaborations at the local level, especially among youth,” he added. He invited members of public to engage the Caucus through submission of petitions or invitations to participate, support and/or amplify local initiatives that address SDG concerns. 

Ms Kirsten Brobsol shared that her organization supports members of the Danish Parliament with information about the SDGs and contributes to considerations about various initiatives that can enhance citizens to follow-up on achievement of SDGs. One such intervention is the development of an SDG-tool-kit for Parliamentarians for the Global Goals[8]. The toolkit assists parliamentarians and committees/caucus of Parliament in Denmark and globally, to address how to work on achieving SDGs. She further added that her organization participates in advocating for SDGs at an international and national level. 

The above insights paint a bleak picture on the achievement of Agenda 2030, albeit in good time. Overall, there has been some commendable progress among different countries and actors in collaborating to realize specific SDGs. However, while Kenya’s Government remains committed to enabling achievement of SDGs, accuracy and delays in monitoring and reporting on the goals need to be addressed. 

Further, policy and legislative measures, particularly related to strengthening of formal social protection programmes in different sectors to address disparities and ensure no one is left behind are required. Strengthening the SDGs’ institutional frameworks at the sub-national level, while mobilizing requisite partnerships and resources to support and accelerate the implementation of the SDGs (at that level) are also urgently required. 

In conclusion Ms. Linda Akitela a UN Youth Representative for Kenya under the African UN Youths Delegates Programme, aptly made a crucial suggestion during the Mzalendo Trust session that, “we need to move away from being reactive and conduct proper needs-assessments, especially on SDGs that directly affect youth.”

 

 

Posted by Loise Mwakamba on March 14, 2025

Categories:  Progress   Sustainable Development Goals   SGDs