The evolution of the family planning programme and its role in influencingfertility change in Kenya

Kenya was one of the first sub-Saharan countries to enter the fertility tra nsition, and analysts have suggested various explanations for this. This pa per examines the growth in contraceptive availability in Kenya by looking a t the Kenya family planning programme and its association with the fertilit y transition. This is of critical programmatic importance because the ferti lity transition is not: yet underway in many sub-Saharan countries. Policym akers will find the information from this study helpful in evaluating the e fficacy of current programmes and replicating the Kenyan programme in areas where fertility decline has not yet occurred. For researchers, the study a ttempts to highlight some of the major factors driving Kenya's fertility de cline, apart from the conventional arguments about social and economic deve lopment.