KELIN, through the Digital Health and Rights Project (DHRP) and the Kenya Community Advisory Team (K-CAT), partnered with Shuga Global at the RHNK Pan-African Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (AYSRHR) Scientific Conference held in Mombasa from 2–5 June 2026.
Together, we hosted The Cost of Connection, an interactive youth engagement space that brought conversations on digital rights, online safety, digital health, wellbeing, and access to sexual and reproductive health information closer to the realities young people experience every day.
Over three days, young people, advocates, researchers, practitioners and policymakers visited the booth to share experiences, challenge assumptions, and reflect on the opportunities and risks that come with navigating digital spaces. Through activities such as the Cost of Connection Wall, Pick Your Cost Challenge, Youth Voices Corner and storytelling sessions with the Shuga Mashariki team, participants explored how technology is shaping their lives, relationships, health and wellbeing.
“The booth showed that high-level conferences can be both engaging and youth-friendly when intentionally designed. It also reinforced that young people are not just participants they are contributors who validate, challenge, and enrich evidence on digital health and SRHR,” Marian Murunga, Member Kenya Community Advisory Team (K-CAT)
A recurring theme throughout the conversations was that while digital platforms have created new opportunities for young people to access information, support and community, many continue to face barriers online. Participants spoke about concerns around privacy, stigma, online harassment, misinformation and technology-facilitated abuse. Many also highlighted limited awareness of digital rights, available protections, and where to seek support when harm occurs.
The discussions also drew attention to the growing digital divide. Participants challenged stakeholders to consider the experiences of young people in rural and underserved communities who may lack access to smartphones, reliable internet connectivity or affordable data. As more health information and services move online, questions emerged about how to ensure these young people are not left behind.
Young people emphasized that creating safer digital spaces cannot be their responsibility alone. They called for stronger digital literacy, greater awareness of digital rights, accessible reporting and support mechanisms, and increased accountability from institutions and technology platforms.
The partnership with Shuga Global added a unique dimension to the engagement. Through storytelling and interactions with members of the Shuga Mashariki community, participants connected personal experiences to broader conversations about online safety, relationships, consent, mental wellbeing, resilience and access to support services. The sessions demonstrated how storytelling and edutainment can create safe and relatable spaces for discussing issues that are often difficult to address openly.
These conversations continued during KELIN’s side event, The Future of Human Rights in the Digital Age: Addressing Technology-Facilitated Abuse as a Barrier to SRHR Information, Services and Support. The session brought together over 100 young people, civil society organisations, researchers and development partners to examine the impact of digital harms on health, rights and participation, while exploring practical approaches to prevention and support.
One message stood out throughout RHNK 2026: digital rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights are increasingly interconnected. Young people are looking for digital spaces that are safe, inclusive, affordable and responsive to their realities. They are also demanding a greater role in shaping the policies, technologies and systems that affect their lives.
The insights shared during RHNK 2026 will continue to inform KELIN’s work on digital health and rights, including efforts to address technology-facilitated abuse, promote digital inclusion, and strengthen protections that enable young people to safely access information, services and support online.
“Securing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) isn’t a one-time campaign or a single event; it requires showing up day after day, keeping the momentum alive, and continuously pushing for policy accountability and bodily autonomy. Without consistency, we lose ground and not forget the new emerging issues that also change access and provision of SRHR services/information like technology and the digital era that is here with us.” Jackline Waweru, Member, Kenya Community Advisory Team (K-CAT).
