By Eddah Waithaka
World Vision Kenya collaborates with the global community, children,, and the Government of Kenya for the theme “Right to Food for a Life and a Better Future.” This impactful message emphasizes that food goes beyond being just a commodity it is a basic human right vital to ensuring, health, and opportunities for all.
Despite persistent efforts, Kenya still encounters major obstacles related to food security and nutrition. The 2024 Global Hunger Index places Kenya 100th among 127 countries, scoring 25.0, which denotes a “serious” hunger situation. This concerning statistic highlights the critical need for inclusive solutions to address food insecurity and ensure that everyone is supported.
According to the latest Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) report from September, 1.7 million Kenyans are currently grappling with acute food insecurity. Even more alarmingly, 760,500 children urgently require nutritional support due to severe malnutrition.
The 2022 Kenya Demographic Health Survey further reveals that among
children aged 6-59 months, 18% are stunted, 5% are wasted, and 10% are underweight.
World Vision Kenya’s National Director, Gilbert Kamanga, stated, “These statistics are not just numbers; they represent real children and families struggling to access their basic right to food. We must act now to reverse this trend and secure a better future for Kenya’s children.”
In the fiscal year 2023, World Vision implemented 107 programs and projects focusing on Livelihoods and Resilience, Health and Nutrition, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), Education, Protection, Public Policy and Advocacy, and Humanitarian and Emergency Response.
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In a press release issued on Wednesday, the organization mentioned that they have invested over 13.05 billion Kenyan shillings in food and nutrition security
projects, with more than 50% of this funding directly supporting efforts to
combat hunger and malnutrition.
Also the press statement noted that the interventions reached a total of 3,429,853 people, including 1,495,512
adults (556,109 men and 939,406 women) and 1,934,341 children (948,724
boys and 985,617 girls).
“Under our current strategy, which began in 2021, we aim to improve the wellbeing of 8,827,654 children in Kenya by 2025, prioritizing support for 2,521,600 of the most vulnerable children,” read the press statement.
