How Kenya plans to combat food, nutrition vulnerabilities

Kenya is set to roll out an ambitious plan to address the mounting food and nutrition challenges.

The initiative developed by the Kenya Food and Nutrition Security Monitoring Secretariat seeks to tackle issues intensified by natural disasters, economic downturns, and health crises through a coordinated and strategic approach.

The Kenya Food Security Crisis Preparedness Plan was the focal point of a recent county consultation workshop, where Dr Mary Mwale from the State Department of Agriculture detailed the gravity of the situation.

“Kenya faces significant risks from droughts, floods, pest invasions, and disease outbreaks, which collectively cost about 2.4 percent of our GDP annually,” Ms Mwale stated.

She emphasized that the new plan aims to prioritise drought response while also addressing threats from desert locusts and livestock diseases like Rift Valley Fever.

“Our primary objectives are to mobilise early responses and enhance resources to protect the most vulnerable populations, including children, expectant mothers, and rural households,” she added.

The workshop forms part of a broader inter-governmental and multi-stakeholder consultation process designed to gather insights from county-level stakeholders.

Ms Mwale said the goal of the initiative is to refine the draft plan, ensuring it is both practical and responsive to the diverse needs across Kenya’s counties.

Taita Taveta County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Eric Kyongo, highlighted the importance of promoting indigenous crops.

“We need to raise awareness about nutritious foods like pumpkins, arrowroot, and cassava, which are not only drought-tolerant but also highly nutritious,” Mr Kyongo said.

He stressed the role these crops can play in ensuring food security and urged for public adoption of the foods for a healthier future.

He also underscored the need to embrace modern farming technologies, particularly climate-smart agriculture to ensure local farmers get good yields.

“To achieve food security, we must enhance productivity and focus on sustainable practices. Let us unite in our efforts to ensure that no Kenyan suffers from hunger,” he urged, calling for collective action towards achieving this goal.

Supported by international partners such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and Unicef, the plan incorporates risk monitoring, early warning systems, and crisis response mechanisms.

It focuses on mobilising contingency financing and scaling up interventions, including food distribution, malnutrition treatment, and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) initiatives.

By integrating Kenya into global support systems, the plan aims to facilitate swift access to international aid.

The launch of the plan is scheduled for October 2024.