Feeding hope: Kenya launches Sh648.2 billion initiative to tackle hunger
Forecasters warn of potentially depressed rainfall in upcoming months, particularly in northern counties, further exacerbating food insecurity and compounding health crises amid epidemics.
Kenya has launched a $5 billion (Sh648.2 billion) food and nutrition resilience programme (FNRP) to combat chronic food insecurity in drought-prone regions.
The 10-year initiative, in partnership with the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS), the African Union (AU), and development partners, aims to support five million vulnerable people in 24 arid and semi-arid (ASAL) counties.
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The FNRP, part of the broader Horn of Africa Food and Nutrition Resilience Programme, responds to Kenya's escalating climate crises, exacerbated by rising temperatures and recurrent climate-induced disasters.
Recent statistics reveal that approximately 6.4 million Kenyans required humanitarian aid in 2023, with 5.4 million facing acute food insecurity, a dire situation compounded by prolonged droughts and severe flooding.
"While recent rainfall provided temporary relief, many households continue to grapple with socio-economic vulnerabilities worsened by climate extremes," noted officials at the programme's launch.
Forecasters warn of potentially depressed rainfall in upcoming months, particularly in northern counties, further exacerbating food insecurity and compounding health crises amid epidemics.
Holistic approach
The FNRP adopts a holistic approach across four strategic pillars: livelihood support and water management, environmental sustainability, health and nutrition, protection, gender equality, peace and security.
These pillars aim to empower communities through resilient agricultural practices, ecosystem restoration and strengthened health systems aligned with Kenya's National Nutrition Action Plan and Vision 2030.
Speaking passionately about the programme's impact, Charles Businge, Regional Director for Africa at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), emphasised its role in bolstering local resilience and sustainability.
"By investing in partnerships and community-driven solutions, we're not just feeding vulnerable populations but also empowering them for long-term self-sufficiency," Businge remarked.
The initiative's three-phase implementation strategy spans a decade, with initial phases focusing on planning, partnership building, and infrastructure development. Funding will be sourced from a consortium of international partners committed to sustainable development goals.
Key stakeholders underscored the programme's potential to address broader societal challenges beyond food security, including micronutrient deficiencies and economic resilience.
Veronica Kirogo, Director of Nutrition and Dietetics at Kenya's Ministry of Health, highlighted the critical need to tackle malnutrition in the most affected counties, where up to 1 million children under five years suffer annually.
"We are investing not only in food security but also in resilience-building to secure our children's future productivity," Kirogo said, pointing out that chronic malnutrition severely impacts Kenya's human capital index, currently at 55 per cent.
Dr Asha Mohamed, head of the IFRC delegation to the AU, underscored the regional scale of the initiative, aiming to support 34 million people across Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.
Collaboration with regional bodies and international agencies like IGAD and FAO will play pivotal roles in scaling up lessons learned from the FNRP to neighbouring countries.
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