Food Manifesto Launch

 

Right to Food Coalition members demand for inclusion of food security agenda in political manifestos and policy proposals.

Political leaders have been asked to prioritise food agenda in their manifestos and plans. Speaking during the launch of a policy proposal document dubbed “Food Manifesto” by the Right to Food Coalition, a group that brings together 12 civil society organisations, they decried over the neglect of the food sector since independence.

The coalition called on Kenyans to demand politicians to address food insecurity issues as a matter of urgency as recent report released by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), indicates over 4.1 million Kenyans are at risk of starvation.

The “Food Manifesto” presents insights gathered from various stakeholders on the status and solutions to addressing food insecurity and nutrition, advancing the achievement of Kenya's Right to Adequate Food for All, and busting common myths and misconceptions about hunger in Kenya. 

In his opening remarks, Mr. Kelvin Shingles, Welthungerhilfe Country Director noted that the fight against hunger is dangerously off track and the ambition and commitment to Zero hunger by 2030 seems beyond reach, as climate change has become a threat multiplier. 

Emmanuel Atamba, Agroecology Program Coordinator at Route to Food Initiative, stated that food and nutrition security remains a challenge over the years.

He added that Kenya's food and nutrition security should be at par with its other development efforts, such as infrastructure and security.

The document, which has been shared to all political parties in the country, also recommends nine-point priorities to the government and political leaders to address food insecurity. The elected government should place food and nutrition security on top national agenda, revamp extension services and increase coverage in social safety nets for vulnerable households among others.

Dr. Martin Oulu, coordinator at Inter-Sectoral Forum for Agroecology and Agrobiodiversity stressed on the need to transform the country’s food systems.

“The food manifesto brings to the political table issues that needs to be addressed in order to achieve the food transformation and system that we want,” said Dr. Oulu.

Dr. Oulu also poked holes in the country’s agriculture budgetary allocation, which currently stands at less than 5 percent both at the national and county levels.

“How we value agriculture as a country is key in the realization of the right to food. We need to treat food security allocation the same way we treat security issues,” Dr. Oulu added.

Dr. Oulu further called for the need to digitize the extension services across the country to fill the knowledge gap for farmers.

Mary Karanu, program officer at Rural Outreach Africa stressed the need to support smallholders who are the major food producers in the country at 70 percent.

“The 10 percent allocation on agriculture budget should be directed towards supporting smallholder farmers and extension services across the country,” she said.

In Kenya, for example, there are misconceptions and myths about the food security problem that continues to derail the achievement of food and nutrition security. The manifesto highlights the misconceptions such as equating food security with the availability or distribution of emergency food aid. 

Another myth is the notion of 'adequate' is entirely inadequate. Food security is understood in terms of staple food crops, for example, maize. However, the focus should be on proper nutrition and the right to choose widely from dairy, meat, fruits, and vegetables as well as staples.

Dr. Elizabeth Kimani-Murage, a senior research scientist and lead, nutrition and food systems unit at African Population and Health Research Center noted that non-communicable diseases related to food have been on the rise.

“We need to embrace food sovereignty. A paradigm shift to recognize food as a human right, a common good, and a public good, accessible to all Kenyans. Every household and community can be supported to produce their own food. We need to create tangible solutions to solve the problem of hunger and actualize the right to food,” said Dr. Kimani-Murage.