As a Country, Kenya has always believed in the rule of law, enshrined in its Constitution, ensuring that all citizens, different institutions, and leaders are held accountable to the governing laws of the land. A critical and crucial dimension in reference to the maintenance of transparency over governance and safeguarding of the citizens’ rights, fostering a stable environment towards economic growth and social development.
Civil societies in Kenya have joined their voices together in the urge to amplify what they believe in most; “the right to food” thus the formation of the right to food coalition. A coalition that aims at seeing the eradication of hunger and food insecurities through the rights-based approach via advocating for the transformation of food systems, policies and legislations, supporting grassroots initiatives and fostering collaboration among stakeholders.
The coming together of over 50 civil societies in Nairobi Kenya last week saw the launch of a Stakeholders’ report on the right to food in Kenya, a pivotal landmark in the ongoing fight for food justice in Kenya as an urgent need to realize food as a fundamental human right.
Tenets of the Report
The stakeholders’ report sought to put forth the challenges, opportunities, and the existing policy gaps in Kenya’s quest to achieve the right to food. This came as a result of consultations with concerned entities in food systems space, research and field studies that aimed at assessing the state of food security, governance and sustainability in Kenya.
This report pointed out key aspects that have derailed the County in the realizations of right to food for all. Access and ownership to land as a resource, unsuitable farming practices, poor food governance, and inadequate safety nets for the vulnerable populations in the Country stood out to be the most constraining factors to the realization of the right to food.
However, the report stretched further outlining practical actionable steps as a call for action from different concerned stakeholders, including the government, private sector and other civil societies to address the identified challenges. Different constituencies represented in the coalition pointed out different actionable measures; consumer Organizations called for stronger regulations to ensure that food in the market was clean, safe, healthy and free from harmful chemicals. Framer organizations also pointed out that there was a need for increased support for smallholder farmers, emphasizing the need for policies that promote agroecological farming for soil sustainability and biodiversity safeguarding.
Path Forward the Coalition
With the launch of this report, the Coalition set to engage both national and county governments in implementing its recommendations. Among the immediate actions proposed is the adoption of a national food policy that aligns with the principles of food sovereignty and agroecology. The coalition believes that this would empower communities to have control over their food systems, reduce dependence on imports, and prioritize local, sustainable food production.
Collective Action Call
The launch of this report sent a clear message; food justice cannot be achieved by a single organization or government alone. It requires a collaborative effort from all sectors of society; civil society, government, the private sector, and consumers themselves to create a future where no Kenyan goes to bed hungry or is forced to choose between a meal and their health. For more reading, the report is available Here
