Kenya

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On 30 August 2012, the Republic of Kenya joined the SUN Movement with a letter of commitment from HE Beth Mugo, the Minister for Public Health and Sanitation. At the time, Kenya had adopted strategic policy initiatives and had been instigating multi-sectoral, legislative and constitutional courses of action. The National Nutrition Action Plan was in the process of formation and in nutrition legislation, a Breast Milk Substitutes Regulation and Control Bill had been submitted to parliament.

Progress

Bringing people together

63% 2019

Bringing people together

Coherent policy and legal framework

79% 2019

Coherent policy and legal framework

Aligning programs around a Common Results Framework

75% 2019

Aligning programs around a Common Results Framework

Financial tracking and resource mobilization

59% 2019

Financial tracking and resource mobilization

TOTAL

69% 2019

TOTAL

Investigating the impact of COVID-19 on SMEs in national food systems

March 30, 2021

Optional

Kenya launches nutrition policies to reduce malnutrition

October 6, 2020

Optional

Multisector collaboration for improved nutrition at the subnational level

July 27, 2020

Optional

Millions of refugees across Africa face even greater food insecurity amid COVID-19 crisis

July 15, 2020

Optional

Mother to Mother support groups promote nutrition awareness in Kenya

June 29, 2020

Optional

Hunger could double in East Africa and the Horn in months as coronavirus spreads

May 26, 2020

Optional

The CSN Learning Route in Rwanda opens with an Experience Fair

October 31, 2016 0

This blog has been written by Ramatu Jalloh, SUN CSA coordinator in Sierra Leone. The first day of the Learning Route in Rwanda for civil society alliances kicked off with an Experience Fair at Umubano Hotel in Kigali. Planned as a preparation session for...

Civil Societies Mobilised to Scale Up Nutrition in Kenya

August 4, 2015 0

Titus Mung’ou The role of civil societies in scaling up nutrition in Kenya is taking a new shape that promises to reverse the malnutrition trends across the country. Since signing up to the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement in 2012, Kenya has established five SUN networks, namely Government, United Nations, Donor, Business and Civil Society.

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Nutrition situation

26.2%

Under Five Stunting

4.2%

Under Five Wasting

4.1%

Under Five Overweight

61.4%

0-5 Months Exclusive Breastfeeding

27.2%

Woman Anaemia 15-49 years

5.7%

Adolescent Overweight Male

15.9%

Adolescent Overweight Female

13.8%

Adult Overweight Male

23.8%

Adult Overweight Female

3%

Adult Obesity Male

11.6%

Adult Obesity Female

5.8%

Adult Diabetes Male

6.2%

Adult Diabetes Female

Nutrition Data Definitions

Strategic objectives

Despite facing severe drought over the past year, progress has been made towards establishing high-level nutrition multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) at both national and county levels. There are plans to appoint SUN focal points to support activities at the county level. However, to ensure the rolling-out of MSP structures, there is a need for continued advocacy for the endorsement of the Food and Nutrition Security Bill (FNSB) and the finalisation of the Food and Nutrition Security Policy (FNSP) Implementation Framework. The engagement of specialised stakeholders such as human rights groups and private sector alliances has increased, especially at the county level.

Last updated: November 2017

2016

Considering that the Food and Nutrition Security Bill (FNSB), aiming to set up a multi-sectoral body, has not yet been endorsed, the interim SUN
Advisory and SUN Technical Committees, established in 2015, complement the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation’s Nutrition Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee’s work. The six dynamic SUN Movement Networks have, together, formulated a position paper to anchor nutrition governance at the highest levels which was integrated into the proposed FNSB Bill, and nutrition champions, including Kenya’s First Lady, will be key to bring about required change.

Last updated: December 2016

2015

The Multi-sectoral Food Security and Nutrition Secretariat envisaged by the Kenya Food and Nutrition Security Policy (KFNSP) does not yet exist as the policy is not validated, however, a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder road map is under development to anchor nutrition coordination at the highest level. In the meantime, the Nutrition Interagency Coordinating Committee (NICC) chaired by the SUN Government Focal Point (FP), who is the Director of Nutrition at the Ministry of Public Health & Sanitation, coordinates nutrition-specific interventions. The NICC involves five ministries, the UN, civil society and academia, and is assisted by a newly established SUN Technical and Advisory Committee and a SUN coordination team, composed of the nine ministries that signed up to the KFNSP. There is further opportunity for other public nutrition actors to be involved. The the SUN Government Focal Point is assisted by a fulltime UNICEF Technical Advisor, financed by the European Union (EU). With the official formation of the SUN Business Network on January 2015, Kenya now has four networks in place, each with terms of reference, work plans and identified conveners (respectively UNICEF; EU; GAIN; ACF). All networks have recently welcomed new members and in addition, the Civil Society Alliance (CSA) has set up five decentralised alliances. Business, Donor and UN Networks have recently completed a mapping of their in-country constituencies (while it is ongoing for the CSA). Discussions are ongoing regarding the establishment of an academic platform.
The First Lady has been a nutrition patron since 2014 and an engagement strategy was drafted in 2015. CSA has been actively engaged with parliamentarians and a National Nutrition Symposium was organised by the government to ‘step up commitments to SUN in Kenya’ in February 2015 to sustain commitments to nutrition.

Last updated: October 2015

In the past year, several nutrition-specific and sensitive policies and guidelines have been developed and reviewed through consultative processes. For example, the current reviewing of the National Nutrition Action Plan (NNAP) 2012-2017 will contribute to the development of the NNAP for 2018-2022. Aside from ongoing advocacy and support to the FNSB, the FNSP Implementation Framework, the 2016 Health Bill, and a revised Agriculture Sector Development Strategy, is underway. Regulations for the Breast-milk Substitutes Act 2012 have been developed and will go through parliament. Furthermore, guidelines for nutrition champions on how to engage with parliamentarians have been developed. Awareness-raising of a group of parliamentarians on nutrition has taken place, furthering the agenda in various parliamentary committees.

Last updated: November 2017

2016

Nutrition is integrated into the Constitution and ‘Vision 2030’, the National Development Plan. The Food Security and Nutrition Policy (FSNP) was passed in 2012, the FNSB has been in Parliament since 2014 and the Infant and Young Child Nutrition Strategy is being updated. Nutrition is integrated into the education and agricultural sectors, while the 2016 Health Bill makes ensuring breastfeeding facilities mandatory for employers. Regulations for the Breastmilk Substitute (regulations and control) Act 2012 are at an advanced stage. The 2016 Nutrition Advocacy, Communication, Social Mobilization Strategy ensures coordinated advocacy at the national and county levels.

Last updated: December 2016

2015

Kenya’s Constitution recognises the right to be free from hunger and have access to basic nutrition. Nutrition legislation includes Breast Milk Substitute (BMS) control, nutrient-fortification, maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN), iron and folic acid supplementation of pregnant and lactating women.
The Food and Nutrition Security Policy was endorsed in 2012 by nine ministries. Nutrition is integrated in the following documents: Agriculture Sector Development Strategy; National Development and Poverty Reduction 2030 Strategy; Economic Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation; National School Health Policy; National Social Protection Policy, however, guidelines for mainstreaming nutrition in sectoral policies are lacking. Recently, efforts have been geared towards inclusion of nutrition in the curriculum from Early Childhood Development to High School and in drafts of the Health Bill and Health Policy 2030. An advocacy, communication and social mobilisation strategy is to be finalised by August 2015.

Last updated: October 2015

The NNAP 2012-2017 is the common results framework (CRF) for the government and partners. However, the FNSP Implementation Framework is being developed to become the new CRF. Progress has been made in assessing the capacity to implement and achieve the goals of the current NNAP. A capacity development framework and assessment tools for nutrition have been developed, which will contribute to CRF implementation. Capacity assessments have been undertaken in eight counties. A landscape analysis has been completed to identify potential areas of collaboration with the private sectors.

Last updated: November 2017

2016

The National Nutrition Action Plan (NNAP) 2012- 2016, comprised high impact interventions, has been rolled out nationally. Out of 47 counties, 17 have finalised costed action plans, 15 are in the process of doing so and 14 are yet to commence. A comprehensive Multi-Sectoral National Nutrition Plan is underway and the budget tracking exercise has led to joint activities being set up with the education, agriculture, and social protection sectors. Advocacy and capacity-building sessions have been organised to sensitise county leadership and assemblies on nutrition.

Last updated: December 2016

2015

The National Nutrition Action Plan (NNAP) 2012–2017 serves as a Common Results Framework (CRF) for the Ministries of Health and Agriculture. It focuses on high impact nutrition interventions, noncommunicable diseases, overweight and obesity. In 2014, 66% of Kenya’s counties developed related nutrition action plans. As no CRF exists for nutrition sensitive actions, discussions are ongoing to identify key indicators and programs that different ministries can engage in. Policy analysis and financial tracking to determine the nutrition sensitivity of sectors will inform this process and help define what needs to be aligned within sectors.
Recently, a National Information Platform for Nutrition (NIPN) feasibility assessment was jointly conducted with the EU.

Last updated: October 2015

A nutrition costing tool is in place, and is used to provide cost estimates for nutrition-related actions. To enhance financial tracking on nutrition, a tool has been developed, and cost-benefit and nutrition financial tracking analyses analysis have been completed, with the latter having taken place at the national level and in six counties so far. The financial tracking tool will be useful to monitor allocations for nutrition-sensitive interventions. A reduction in funding for nutrition has been seen, although emergency response funding has improved.

Last updated: November 2017

2016

Much progress in tracking national nutrition investments, including in relation to the National Nutrition Plan, has been seen in the reporting period – based on available data and trend analyses for both on and off-budget activities. The country has seen an increase in health investments at both national and county levels and in national human resource allocations for nutrition. However, key nutrition investments still fall short and underline the importance of sustained advocacy efforts.

Last updated: December 2016

2015

The NNAP has been costed (and 7 counties have costed their own plans), while costing of nutrition sensitive activities is ongoing with support from UNICEF and the involvement of the business sector.
The Ministries of Gender and Health have dedicated nutrition lines and a financial tracking system for nutrition activities on and off budgets is being developed, with support from UNICEF, the CSA and the Donor Network. A four-year Nutrition Resilience Program worth €19 million has been granted by the EU to improve maternal and child nutrition and will be implemented by UNICEF and the Government. The DFID multiyear plan for nutrition (2012-2015) equaled $USD 30 million.

Last updated: October 2015

SUN Government Focal Point

"In my new appointment as the SUN Focal Person for Kenya, I will commit to support all SUN Networks in the country to make their contribution and positively change the indicators for undernutrition, especially stunting and anaemia, which are off target according to the 2014 Global Nutrition Report."

Gladys Mugambi
Head of Division of Health Promotion