An Overview of Food and Nutrition Security Situation of Kenya

Abstract

Achieving food and nutrition security remains a challenge for Kenya, despite International bodies providing long-term active support in order to achieve it. Low technological capability, inefficient production systems, inconsistent economic growth, increasing population and lately climate variability, affect food production, leading to either stagnation or only modest gains in food and nutrition security in Kenya. Nevertheless, food and nutrition security continues to improve, albeit at a slow pace. The major drivers of the improvements are political stability, ambitious economic planning, the quest for higher agricultural productivity, improving educational achievement, sanitation and health. To accelerate the process, Kenya embraced Vision 2030, devolution of governance and resources to County Governments, and lately, the Big 4 Agenda. This overview examines the status of food and nutrition security in Kenya including the prospects and the challenges faced. The analysis provides specific recommendations for achieving it. These include investment in agriculture, decelerating population growth, using adaptive research to solve farmer-problems, improving the management of farmer-organizations and formation of cooperatives.