A New Chapter for Faith-Led Collaboration in Kenya
The Interfaith National Hub on Family Health and Wellbeing was officially launched on 23 April 2026, marking a significant milestone in positioning faith actors as key partners in advancing family health outcomes across Kenya.
The Hub brings together faith leaders, interfaith bodies, faith-based organizations, and other stakeholders into a structured platform for coordination, knowledge sharing, and collective action. It recognizes the critical role faith actors play in shaping community values, influencing behavior, and supporting families and adolescents.
Purpose of the Hub
The launch aimed to:
- Position faith leaders as trusted and ready partners in family health and wellbeing initiatives
- Establish a national platform for collaboration between faith actors, government, and development partners
- Highlight evidence on the role of faith actors in addressing adolescent health and broader family wellbeing
Strong Multi-Sector Participation
The event convened 65 participants from across sectors, including:
- Faith leaders and individual faith actors
- Interfaith bodies and faith-based networks
- National and county government representatives
- Development partners
Key faith networks represented included Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), Inter-Religious
Council of Kenya (IRCK), The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN), All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), and Anglican Development Services (ADS).
Key Insights: Unlocking Community Potential
Baseline findings presented during the launch revealed important insights:
- Communities including faith leaders and parents are open to discussing health and wellbeing, including adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH)
- Barriers such as fear, shame, and perceived disapproval continue to limit open dialogue
- A gap exists between willingness to engage and actual practice, largely influenced by social norms
- Gender inequalities persist, with girls disproportionately bearing responsibility and consequences
- Knowledge levels on SRH remain low (Girls: 2.8%, Boys: 4.5%)
These findings highlight that the challenge is not resistance but untapped support and limited capacity offering a clear opportunity for targeted engagement.
Leadership Commitment
County Government – Kilifi County
The Deputy Governor of Kilifi County emphasized the importance of faith leaders as an underutilized resource and committed to:
- Strengthening structured engagement with faith leaders
- Integrating faith actors into health, gender, and social development initiatives
- Collaborating on community-level program implementation
National Government
The Principal Secretary for Gender and Affirmative Action officiated the launch and :
- Recognized the longstanding contributions of faith actors
- Affirmed government commitment to structured engagement through the Hub
- Highlighted priority areas including gender-based violence, femicide, adolescent health, and family wellbeing
Faith Leaders Step Forward
During a high-level panel, faith leaders reflected on their evolving role beyond spiritual guidance to active community engagement. They acknowledged past gaps and committed to:
- Speaking with courage, including on sensitive issues
- Actively addressing challenges affecting adolescents and families
- Strengthening their role as trusted community influencers
This commitment was formalized through the reading of an Interfaith Declaration on Family Health and Wellbeing signaling a unified call to action.
Partner Commitments
Faith networks and development partners expressed strong commitment to collaboration.
A representative from SUPKEM emphasized the importance of positioning the Hub within Ministry of Health and Gender structures, promoting joint implementation of programs, co-developing policies and initiatives, and leveraging faith spaces as platforms for community feedback and engagement.
Development partners, including HENNET and the SRHR Alliance, also reaffirmed their commitment to engaging faith leaders as key allies in advancing health and rights, as well as integrating faith actors into their programs and community outreach efforts.
Looking Ahead
The launch of the Interfaith National Hub marks a significant step toward harnessing the collective influence of faith actors in addressing key health and social challenges.
With strong participation, shared commitment, and a clear pathway for collaboration, the Hub provides a timely and strategic platform to advance family health and wellbeing through community-rooted, values-driven approaches.
