Right to Food Workshop-Deliberations on a vision for Realisation of the Right to Food in Kenya

In Kenya, 68.5% of the population is moderately or severely food insecure, and about 25% of the population is undernourished. In September 2021, some 2 million Kenyans are facing certain hunger, an increase from 1.4 million in March 2021. Drought is affecting half the counties in the country and the number of hungry persons is projected to reach 3 million by December 2021¹.2.1 million people in Kenya are malnourished.²The problem of food insecurity in Kenya is linked to economic inequalities, social exclusion, corruption, high poverty in rural areas, decreased agricultural productivity, high food prices, drought, floods, conflict, and climate change.

Experience sharing on Culture and Food in the Kenyan Context 

The high burden of malnutrition and routine hunger in Kenya is not only a threat to the achievement of the goal of Kenya Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but also a clear indication of inadequate realization of human rights. In the Constitution of Kenya 2010, two articles are explicit on the right to food. Article 43 (1)(C) states “Every person has the right to be free from hunger, and to have adequate food of acceptable quality”; and Article 53 (1)(C) “Every child has the right to basic nutrition, shelter and health care”. There are several laws (Acts) that talk about food, but we do not have a specific right to food Act – a framework law to support legally binding obligations to realiSe the right to food. Agriculture and food and nutrition policies, cognisant of the right to food, try to address the country’s food and nutrition challenges with limited success; mostly from a needs-based perspective rather than from a rights approach.

Consultations with and research done by stakeholders revealed that there is a need to develop a robust legal framework for the Right to Food to give life to the constitutional provision in Article 43 (1) (c). The Article is an important milestone towards the realisation of the right to food, but not sufficient as it does not provide an elaborate framework to actualise the right. Hence the goal is to have a comprehensive legal framework that sufficiently translates the constitutional entitlement on the right to adequate food enacted and rolled out with requisite policies, accountability and redressal mechanisms, institutional arrangements, and resources by 2030.

To enable effective advocacy for the right to food, stakeholders recognize that alliance-building at the national and county level among CSOs is critical in the promotion of the right to adequate food. Thus, the Right to Adequate Food (RtAF) Coalition. A rights-based approach empowers rights holders to know and claim their rights, and equally important is the development of capacities of duty bearers, to ensure that they are familiar with their respective obligations – to respect, protect and fulfil human rights. The RtAF Coalition is forging a partnership between government and the civil society for a rights-based, participatory process.

The Route to Food Coalition organised a workshop on 6^th June 2022 at Golden Tulip Hotel in Westlands-Nairobi. The objective of the meeting was to brainstorm on developing of a Right to Food Bill and envision among a group of diverse stakeholders what a Right to Food means in the Kenyan context. Represented organisations were Haki Nawiri Afrika https://hakinawiriafrika.org/ ,Biosafety and Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya (BIBA), Rural Outreach Africa, Welthungerhilfe, Regional Schools and Colleges Permaculture Programme (ReSCOPE), Concern Worldwide , Consumer Advocacy Korogocho Social Justice Centre/Njaa (hunger)Revolution, Rural Outreach Africa, Heinrich Boll Stiftung (HBS), Concern Worldwide, University of Nairobi and lawyers representing various legal organisations.

The participants were divided into 4 groups focusing on  food supply chains, food environments , consumer behaviour , nutrition and health outcomes and asked to discuss draw on a piece of paper an envisioned representation of Right to Food in the Kenyan context. After the drawings, each group was asked to present in plenary.

The Envisioned future of Food in Kenya 

The presentations showed:

• Recognition of indigenous knowledge when it comes to food
• The importance of functional systems for example transport
• The relevance of policies and decision making when it comes to food
• The interconnectedness of food and other rights for example right to education and right to health
• The concerns over safety of food
• The role played by markets in the food chain
• The different roles played in the food system

The participants further shared the rationale for their drawings, which included:

• Negative impacts of climate change on citizens
• Rising cost of living and influence on food production and household food insecurity
• The fact that Kenya is an agricultural county therefore food is key
• The losses that food producers go through because of lack of infrastructure such as roads and storage facilities
• The legislations currently being pushed and /enacted that criminalise activities undertaken by smallholder farmers such as seed saving and exchange

The participants were divided into groups and assigned to discuss questions focusing on an element of food. The groups were: Food supply chains, ii) Food Environment and consumer behaviour iii) Diets, nutrition and health outcomes  iv) Food governance and impacts of food systems. In each assigned group, the participants were to discuss the following:

• Discuss the context of own topic
• Document key issues/concerns/observations. Also, note some of the key positive developments/events
• Discuss and document only key, precise proposed interventions for the concerns identified
• What are the existing policies and legal frameworks guiding the various aspects of your topic of discussion? How do they align with the Right to Adequate Food principles/aspirations?
• Are they sustainable, why?

In the context of health, diets and nutrition outcomes , it was stated that :

• Nutrition situation has deteriorated compared to last year 2021,
• Number of children requiring treatment for  Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) has risen by 15.6% (652,960 last year to 754,906),
• The situation is expected to further worsen because of poor rains,
• COVID-19 pandemic  has further worsened the food security situation at the household level,
• Climate change decreased the produce, decreased the quality, micro-nutrient level decreased
• Transition of disease burden (Non-Communicable Diseases) from 27% to 39%
• Poor Nutrition knowledge
• Physical inactivity
• Rapid urbanisation

Group work on legal frameworks and how they align with the realisation of the Right to Food

The legal frameworks guiding  healthy diets and nutrition outcomes were stated as:

• The Constitution of Kenya
• Notice No 157 of Government of Kenya(GOK) 2015
• Food Drug and Chemical Act
• CAP 254 – Food safety
• Agricultural Finance
• Food and Crops Act
• Breast milk Substitute Act
• Pest Control Product act
• Kenya Climate smart Agriculture Strategy(2017-2026)
• National Change Action Plan 2018-2022
• Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDS)
• National Agriculture Policy
• Food and Nutrition Security Policy and Implementation framework
• National Food Certification Strategy
• Kenyan National Action Plan(KNAP)
• County Nutrition Action Plan
• Flour Blending Regulation
• Blended Flour Standard
• National Food System Strategy
• Draft Urban Agriculture Strategy
• National Guidelines on Healthy Diets and Physical Activity

The alignments between the legal frameworks  with Right to Food and sustainable food systems were described as:

• • The strategy provide a road-map and interventions required to realise the right to food
  • They contain inbuilt monitoring and evaluation plans
  • Provide for changes and improvements (guideline)

The alignment legal frameworks relating to diets, nutrition and health outcomes were stated as:

• Article 43, 1(a, c), of the Constitution of Kenya, guarantees the ‘Right to highest attainable standard of health’, ‘Right to basic nutrition’, ‘Freedom from hunger and and to have adequate food of acceptable quality’
• Breast Milk Substitutes Regulations Act (BMS)  Act – ensures young ones have access to safe, nourishment to who may be exposed to malnutrition
• Food Drugs and Chemical Substances Act  – ensures consumers are protected from malpractice against sale of unwholesome, poisonous or adulterated food that may result to poor health and nutrition outcomes
• Food and Fortification Standard – provides/ensures right protection of the micro-nutrient and it availability upon ingestion
• Agriculture Finance Act – enable farmers have access to finance resources to enable production of food
• Food and Crops Act – provide sustainable affordable credit and advances to farmers for All farm improvement, inputs, operations price stabilisation; Creates provision of subsidiary bodies to discharge specific aspects in food security, value addition, extension for irrigation farming, pest and disease control

The current context of food governance  and supply chains in Kenya was said to be characterised by :

• Devolved system of governance with both national and county governments. Agriculture function devolved to counties
• Ongoing development of right to food policies in 17 counties by Kenya Parliamentary Human Rights Association(KEPHRA)
• Disconnect between citizen’s responsibilities and ongoing political discourse ; missing link between the power of the vote and the right to food , its impact of political choices on food systems ; citizens are unaware of their rights and responsibilities especially the right to food; limited knowledge of the right to food and most get surprised when they are informed about it
• In the past there has been weak linkages between Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and Ministry of Health(MoH): management of issues of food by the Ministry of Agriculture  ; there is positive development towards thinking about from a systems perspective by linking agriculture, health and nutrition and social safety nets
• Lack of participation by citizens( especially the youth) in county governance processes especially on the right to food and agriculture sector budget allocations
• Several reforms in agriculture sector around tea and coffee , what is their impact on food systems
• A lot of agriculture production is viewed from perspective of agriculture sector contribution to the GDP rather than feeding out population (food commodification). All governments have unspoken motivation in every reform initiative , they are mainly thinking about increasing the tax net then the rest(health, incomes etc. come later)
• Resource gaps at county government level as result of delays in disbursements from national to county governments
• Farmers are producing food but subjected to high taxes (cess, market fees) and other costs (e.g. transport costs)hence escalating food prices
• Counties being pushed to pay more taxes to national government
• Weak food distribution systems to ensure surplus from one region is taken to areas where there is scarcity: urban areas depend on food from rural areas
• Poor water and soil governance which are critical to food production and safety; impacts of climate change need to be considered
• Conflict over resource management ; farmer –herder conflicts in areas such as Tana River,  Laikipia , Samburu
• Drought crisis : government role and responsibility to protect its population from hunger through social safety nets
• Food is very expensive-both farmers and consumers are struggling: inputs are very expensive due to lack of subsidised inputs; corruption has limited availability of affordable farm inputs for farmers to profitably produce food –at national level fertiliser is subsidised but at farmer level it is not; importation of maize; cost of producing maize outweighs the output Kshs. 20,000 vis a vis Kshs. 24,000.  High cost of production is pushed to consumers
• The group members reflected on what crops can be grown by Kenyan farmers apart from maize
• Politicians giving handouts( fertilisers, relief food, seeds ) to citizens; seeds being distributed in the middle of the rain season due to delayed seed distribution which leads to massive crop losses while the government  has weather and drought early warning systems
• Implementation of existing laws and policies is weak

The Legal frameworks relating to food supply chains were stated as

• Constitution of Kenya 2010
• Article 43 of Constitution – Right to Food, Right to Health, Right to Social Security
• Article 53 (1) (c) of Constitution –
• Article 20, 21, 22, 23 of Constitution – Enforcement articles- Duty of State to protect, promote and fulfil; progressive realisation of rights and role of judiciary
• Children’s Act
• Health Act 2017
• Public Health Act
• Bill on Pesticides
• Bill on Seeds
• Bill on Biosafety
• Agriculture Act
• Fertilisers and Animal Food Stuff Amendment Act 2015 Bill penalising the use of farm manure by small scale farmers
• Public Health Bill penalising the sale of non-pasteurised milk directly to consumers

County Level Laws

-Nairobi Urban Farming Promotion and Regulation Act 201

The context of food environment and consumer behaviour in Kenya was said to be characterised by :

Food availability and Physical access (proximity)

• Climate change has impacted the availability of food. Extreme weather events have resulted in the loss of food in cases of prolonged droughts and floods.
• The rising cost of living has impacted the purchasing power of consumers
• Soil degradation on soil health resulting to low yields
• Food wastes as a result of overproduction
• Post-harvest losses due to lack of adequate storage facilities
• Legislations that restrict the sharing and exchange of seeds

Leonida Odongo-from Haki Nawiri Afrika Making a presentation on envisioned future of Food in the Kenyan Context 

Economic Access of food was said to be hampered by:

• Transport –poor roads, distribution inequality (some parts of the country may have food while others are going hungry because of agroecological zones)
• Infrastructure (poor road networks inhibiting distribution)
• Middlemen resulting to the exploitation of producers and final consumers
• Rising costs of living (abnormal prices of food)
• Inflation leading to high prices of food
• Seed certification – what of farmers who cannot afford or who prefer to use Farmer Managed Seed Systems
• Markets (flooded markets because of producing the same crop eg maize)
• Roads become impassable because of extreme weather events e.g roads washed away during flooding
• Transport –poor roads, distribution inequality (some parts of the country may have food while others are going hungry because of agroecological zones)
• Infrastructure (poor road networks inhibiting distribution)
• Middlemen resulting to the exploitation of producers and final consumers
• Rising costs of living (abnormal prices of food)
• Inflation leading to high prices of food
• Seed certification – what of farmers who cannot afford or who prefer to use Farmer Managed Seed Systems
• Markets (flooded markets because of producing the same crop e.g maize)
• Roads become impassable because of extreme weather events e.g roads washed away during flooding

Food quality and safety

• Contradictory views on safety of food by different actors e.g media and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) example whether consumption of Indomie (https://allafrica.com/stories/202205050063.html#:~:text=Nairobi%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Consumers%20Federation%20of,high%20aflatoxins%20and%20pesticide%20residues) has health implications
• Lack of labelling of foods  that consumers have a choice

Promotion, advertising, and information

• Public participation
• Information- Some important information is concealed from the public i.e confidential business information. There is no full disclosure on the health impacts on the agro-chemicals in the market.
• How do we address the various grievances?

How legal frameworks align with right to food and sustainable food systems in relation to  food environments and consumer behaviour  were stated as:

• Constitution of Kenya (Art.43(1(c)-Access, adequacy and safety i.e right to food in totality
•  Community Land Act- access , sustainability
•  Food and Drugs and Chemical Substances Act-safety
•  Consumer Protection Act –safety, quality, stability ( inflation , demand and supply)
• Land Act- land( as a natural resource foundational for food production) and food  availability, management ,sustainability
•  Seed and Plant Varieties Act –quality, availability, adequacy
•  Crops Act-quality, availability, adequacy
•  Irrigation  Act-availability
•  Public Health Act-safety , quality adequacy ( e.g nutrition)
• Pest Control and Product Act-quality and safety
• Climate Change Act-quality , availability , sustainability and stability
• Environmental Management and Coordination Act –quality , availability, sustainability, management

Key Recommendations

On diets, nutrition and health outcomes, the proposed recommendations were:

• Budgetary allocation – communication and awareness for nutrition education and dietary patterns
• Regulatory Framework – Regulation of marketing of unhealthy foods/processed; awareness creation through media campaigns to increase market share of healthy foods; identify influencers
• Design programs with Small and Micro Enterprises (SME) to create demand for the bio-fortified food
• Innovating business models and agro-processing and marketing
• Inclusion/strengthening curriculum to include nutrition
• Collaboration with Ministry of Trade (MoT) to harmonise regional trade policies to avoid over-dumping in the country to boost local production for the commercialisation -leverage of Africa free trade
• Design and conduct a study on cost drivers of producing healthy both at household and commercial level
• Adoption of smart agricultural practices

On food governance in the Kenyan context , the key recommendations were :

• Civic Education on right to food should not only be done by CSOs and the Government needs to take this up e.g. the Kenya National Human Rights Commission
• Improvements in linkages between MoA , MoH, Ministry of Social Services
• There is need for food effective food distribution systems and some level of local production in urban and peri-urban areas e.g. in Nairobi there is a law to promote urban agriculture. Intergovernmental relations to improve food distribution are also required
• Need for improved water and soil governance
• Need to for improved natural resource sharing agreements to reduce conflict

On environment and consumer behaviour , the key recommendations proposed were:

• Public participation is key and mechanisms should be put in place to ensure people actually participate
• There is need to address gatekeeping when it comes to community participation
• Women are not accessing information, there is need to ensure women participate
• Disclosure clauses and secret information for example on products such as round up. Farmers are told round up makes their work easier by clearing weeds but they are not told that round up has health and environmental implication

Affordability of food and access

• The state to cushion citizens from high food prices e.g through Food Rescue (subsidies, soup kitchen ,food banks) for those who cannot afford
• Monitor, analyse and implement food related legislations
• Reforms in the Social Safety Nets
• State increase the number of people benefitting from the social protection services
• More money to be allocated in the social safety nets

Economic

• Building capacity of farmers on value addition
• Avail tax free inputs for value addition
• Ensure that NCPBs are fully functional including availing staff
• Modernised facilities in the National Cereals and Produce Board(NCPB) including cold rooms and enabling storage of multiple produce apart from maize wheat and scheduled crops (more
• Stock NCBPs with modern facilities to enable storage of multiple produce
• More money to be allocated to research by the state

Information

• The state to establish accountability mechanisms and grievance redress for example when your right to food is violated where do you take it (Grievance Response Mechanisms on food)
• Protection of citizens from false advertising (so that they make informed decisions on choice of food)
• Full disclosure of information on food systems (inputs, seeds)

Economic

• Building capacity of farmers on value addition
• Avail tax free inputs for value addition
• Ensure that NCPBs are fully functional including availing staff
• Modernised facilities in the NCPBs including cold rooms and enabling storage of multiple produce apart from maize wheat and scheduled crops (more
• Stock NCBPs with modern facilities to enable storage of multiple produce
• More money to be allocated to research by the state

Information

• The state to establish accountability mechanisms and grievance redress for example when your right to food is violated where do you take it (Grievance Response Mechanisms on food)
• Protection of citizens from false advertising (so that they make informed decisions on choice of food)
• Full disclosure of information on food systems (inputs, seeds)
• Need for increased demand for accountability by citizens

Conclusion

The workshop was an opportunity for learning  and sharing of experiences especially in relation to legislations and opportunities for advancing the realisation of the right to food in Kenya.

References

1 Kevin Cheruiyot. Drought could worsen by December, Red Cross warns. The Star. September 9, 2021. https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2021-09-09-drought-could-worsen-by-december-red-cross-warns/

2 https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/alerts-archive/issue-47/en/

The Meeting was officially opened by Joachim Paul, regional Director-Heinrich Boll Foundation(HBS).Emmanuel Atamba in charge of Policy at HBS took the participant through the rationale for a legal document that speaks to the right to food .Rising costs of living were cited as one of the major reasons and this was linked to rising costs farm inputs of which farmers cannot afford linked to the war in Ukraine .It was also mentioned that food is a political issue and that it is very baffling to see when grassroots organisations demonstrate because of rising food prices , many people just peep at them through the window. It was said emphasised that Right to Food should be a concern for every Kenyan.

The participants were taken through the rationale for having a Right to Food Bill in Kenya. It was mentioned that apart from the Constitution, there is no law that is explicit on the right to food for the citizenry. It was said that there are various issues that warrant litigation when it comes to the right to food. The mentioned instances that make food litigious were cited as:

• When substandard food is sold
• When food becomes poisonous(aflatoxin)
• Impacts of extreme weather events on food on farms
• Death or illness as result of toxic substances in the food chain (pesticides )
• When citizens go hungry because of high cost of food
• When ingredients in food are higher than the WHO accepted levels g. sugars
• Adverse impacts of advertisements that negatively influence consumption

3 Njaa is a Kiswahili word for hunger

• Misinformation on adverts relating to food or farm inputs (e.g. wonder seeds, high yields which do not materialize)

Africa Group of Negotiators and Experts (AGNES) Strategy Meeting 

Currently across the continent, weather patterns are changing , there is an increased crop volatility including livestock .Extreme weather events are on the rise and are projects to become even more drastic in future.Climate change is compounding food insecurity on a continent already severely afflicted by hunger and malnutrition. The prevalence of undernourishment is estimated to be 19.1%, or 250.3 million people, across Africa; populations in Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean are undernourished at less than half this rate (8.3% and 7.4 respectively. Africa has become home to the higher number of malnourished people at 433.2 million. According  to the FAO,(Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization) , in 2019, there was an estimated 3 billion people unable to afford the cheapest version of a healthy diet .

The Pre-  Subsidiary  Body for  Scientific  and Technological Advice (SBSTA)  African Group of Negotiators and Experts Support (AGNES) Strategy Meeting and Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture ( KJWA)  was co-organised by AGNES, Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), Climate Research for Africa(CGIAR), Government of Kenya(GOK) –Ministry of Agriculture , International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), International Development Research Centre (IDRC),International Livestock Research Institute, Biodiversity International , Accelerating the Impact of CGIAR Research in Africa (AIC Accelerating the Impact of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA), Africa Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) , Food and Agriculture Organisation(FAO) co-organised a workshop from 2^nd -4^th March  2022  at the Rift Valley Lodge in Naivasha.

The  workshop brought together 40 participants. The participants included CSO representatives, government officials and climate change negotiators. The countries represented during the workshop were: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Lesotho, Rwanda, Burundi Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Ghana, Zambia, Uganda, Togo,Benin,Zimbabwe,Tanzania, South Africa , South Sudan, Senegal, Sudan, Malawi , ,Nigeria ,Gambia, Tunisia and Djibouti.

Cross Section of Participants : Representing Governments , African Group of Negotiators and Civil Society 

The United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the twenty-third Conference of Parties (COP23) held in November in Bonn, Germany, Parties adopted the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA) that established a joint SBSTA and SBI work on agriculture, thus linking science and implementation.The objective of the Naivasha meeting was to :

-Finalising the two paragraphs on New Zealand(NZ) workshops

-Identify key elements of the report to  Conference of Parties (COP)27 on KJWA on issues related to agriculture.

-Agreeing on a draft decision on the future of KJWA on issues related to agriculture under the UNFCCC process for consideration and adoption.

-Consolidate AGN position on how to clean and finalise the two paragraphs on New Zealand workshops.

-Review key highlights on the outcomes of the six KJWA topics to inform the elements of the report to COP27 on issues related to agriculture and

-Prepare a draft decision on the future of KJWA under the UNFCCC process

The forum discussed IPCC report and climate urgency , focusing on devastating impact of climate change on the African continent with emphasis on rising hunger and extreme weather conditions.It was observed  that the Final Draft of the IPCC Report recognises the urgency of addressing climate change and mentions agroecology by stating that “ that ecosystem based integrated approaches such as agroecology that increases soil organic matter , enhances soil and water conservation and diversify food production systems.

The convening further deliberated on agroecology as a solution to the current climate crisis affecting Africa and the world at large.Representatives  members of AFSA from different countries shared their practices on agroecology and engagement with policy makers .The countries and organisations represented included Kenya ( Haki Nawiri Afrika , Regional Schools and Colleges Permaculture Programme and Indigenous Women and Girls Initiative ), Togo( Young Volunteers for the Environment), Uganda (Participatory Ecological Landu Use Management- PELUM).

Evidence of Agroecology in Climate Resilience -Presentation by BIOVISION

Experiences were shared on  agroecology as an entry point to addressing climate change  in various countries in Africa .These included:

-Enhancing efficiency and productivity of livestock sub-sectors

-Diversification –drought resistance and breeding

-Water technologies for recycling , irrigation and sustainable management of household agriculture and industrial purpose

-Efforts to diversify adaptive livelihood alternatives that enhance households resilience to climate shocks in a manner that the livelihoods options are friendly and co-exist with the natural ecosystem

-Integrating climate change adaptation and expansion of agroforestry

Other organisations  shared their work during the workshop.These included Consortium of Agricultural Research Centres(CGIAR) with a focus on climate security.The presentation entailed pathways climate –conflict linkages and how climate resilience peace works.It was said that climate change is a threat multipliers .It was discussed that policies and programmes fail to tackle the underlying  drivers of insecurity .It was mentioned that   climate science must be integrated into conflict  prevention and peace-building.It was mentioned that  there is need to leverage finance towards  more integrated progress.It was discussed that  it is important to build partnerships across sectors, galvanise expertise and harness innovation.It was stressed that it is important to have accurate and timely data on the funding in relation to addressing climate change.

Climate change was discussed in the context of human security .It was said that climate variability is manifested through variability in temperature and rainfall, increased evaporation , severer and prolonged droughts as well as  frequent floods. It was mentioned that climate variability impacts on agricultural  and pastoral systems , leads to decline in agricultural output as well, low investment in agriculture, drought induced livestock loss as well  as lack of  lack of pasture and water for livestock. It was mentioned that  environmental degradation results into pressure on resources , perceived scarcity and struggle of resource use. It was said that that  negative impacts on agricultural and pastoral systems  leads to  adverse effects on resource  availability and access and at the same time impacts livelihood and food security. It was discussed that  livelihoods and food insecurity lead to poverty and marginalisation, youth unemployment and social inequality  including among gender and regional inequalities.

Forced mobility and presence of refugee community was cited to be as a result of  pressure on resources , perceived scarcity and struggle over resources .It was discussed that  climate induced mobility leads to seasonal livestock mobility in dry periods .It was further said that  proximity and interaction between  refugees and host community often results into tensions   over shared resources   and risk of sexual and gender based violence.It was said that there is need for an understanding of complexities of  climate and security for informed decision making. It was discussed that t is important to programme for peace that is developing peace sensitive operations for  millions of beneficiaries. It was discussed that articulating the role of food systems in  a climate crisis for policies and frameworks is key and that leveraging  finance by aligning  objectives  and incentives align the humanitarian development and peace nexus. Key elements discussed were as follows:

     -Climate security gender nexus

     -Climate security mitigation nexus

     -Climate security inequality nexus

     -Climate security measurement indicators

     -Climate security migration nexus

     -Climate security policy coherence

On policy and technical potential for agroecology in Africa, It was discussed that  there are policy and technical potential and case studies were shared Kenya and Senegal. For the policy potential, it was said that translation of interdisciplinary and systemic nature of agroecology  into policies remains challenging .It was discussed that  results highlighting the importance of training and awareness raising activities as  well knowledge  to creation and  its dissemination.For example , the potential of agroecology for Kenya and Senegal  was stated as:

-Farmers practicing agroecology  farmers have significantly higher resilience than non-practicing farmers  farmers

-Agroecological systems have a higher capacity  to absorb , cope with and adapt  to climate change

-Agroecology enhances  both human and natural  capital of the farmer

-Spatial and temporal heterogeneity  as well as sharing of traditional knowledge  are aspects of strengthening resilience

It was stated that the  latest piece of evidence  from Ethiopia , push –pull study  is an extremely  good illustration of what agroecology  is at practice level  that is  building synergies between plants and animals , building up healthy soil , replacing fertilisers and pesticides  and replacing it by ecosystem services.

Agroecology for Climate Justice Dialogue-Machakos 

It was stated that  a campaign on Agroecology was launched by AFSA members in 2019 and this is being carried out in 14 African countries.During the workshop , on the ground experiences on agroecology were shared from Kenya, Uganda and Togo.From Togo, it was said that policy makers and community members were mobilised in support of agroecology.It was stated that the key strategies utilised were stakeholder mobilisation , information sharing , creation of platforms for exchanges using the Negotiated Approach.It was said that in Togo , the government has shown  the political will in support of agroecology.

Transition from Conventional Production  to Agroecology 

From Kenya , experiences of implementing an Agroecology for Climate Action Campaign was shared .The project is collaboratively implemented by https://hakinawiriafrika.org/, Regional Schools and Colleges Permaculture Programme and Indigenous Women and Girls Initiative.It was stated that activities undertaken during implementation of the campaign include community dialogues  on climate change and agroecology, stakeholder mobilization , engagement of policy makers, media engagement  and development of a policy brief. It was said that the community dialogues had been carried out in Machakos, Kiambu, Laikipia , Kajiado and Nairobi.It was explained that the objective of the campaign is to lobby for agroecology to be part of Kenya’s National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).It was discussed that an assessment of County policies was done to identify gaps in these policies .It was stated that a policy brief has been developed linking gaps and identification of opportunities   on  agroecology can address climate change in various counties in Kenya.

         Agroecology for Climate Action Community Dialogues

Participatory Land Use Management (PELUM)-Uganda PELUM shared their experiences  how they engage local communities and government on issues of agroecology. It was explained that a stakeholders meeting had been held which also involved showcasing community actions such as indigenous seeds and other  ecologically grown food. It was stated that government officials present in these forums were in support of agroecology and that moving forward , more dialogues would be held with communities for popular support.

It was stated that what causes the challenge towards adoption of agroecology is a set of lock-ins.These were highlighted  as the tight relationship between industry and governments t the expense of smallholder farmers.These lock-ins were said to be characterised by:Export orientation, concentration of power, expectation of cheap food, dependency, measures of success , short term thinking,feed the world narratives and short term thinking.

Million Belay -General Coordinator of the  Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa sharing about Lock ins and how they Impact on Agroecology 

An interrogation was made as to how policies could be used to address climate related challenges .This , it was  questioned could be through  producing more food, production of more food which is nutritious and healthy, producing more food with is nutritious and healthy and without affecting the biosphere including the climate.

     Policy and Climate Crisis 

The narratives for Green Revolution in Africa were describes as priority to businesses to produce  more and feed Africa,farmers seed being labelled part of the problem and should be replaced with patented hybrids,the problem of calorie , thus more calories being proposed as a solution, land should be given to those who can make it more productive, reorienting  agriculture to the market , knowledge comes from science and that it is possible to produce one fits all solution.

Assessment of AGRA Progress Goals in Africa 

The forum discussed the 10 elements of agroecology according to FAO ,which was described as a myriad of interactions and interdependences which included recycling, synergies , co-creation and sharing of knowledge diversity , human and social values and responsible governance.An assessment of the progress of AGRA’s goals was sharing with main findings which included:

-No evidence of 100%  increase in productivity

-Maize is the favoured crop ,  overall staple yields  up to only 18%

-Subsidies expanded and planted to favoured crops not yields

-No evidence of incomes doubling , poverty levels is high

-Resulted in erosion of local varieties

On the way forward, in relation to the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture,  it was stated that there was an acknowledgement of the issues relating to agriculture, the existing gaps on the work of constituted bodies in relation to agriculture in the UNFCC process so as to enhance action in agriculture through domestic actions and international cooperation. There was a welcoming of new topics and a highlighting of the potential of creating interlinkages that lead to enhanced action and improvements in implementation. It was stated that there is enhanced consideration and imp, mentation of issues related to agriculture and that there is a fundamental priority of safeguarding food security and ending hunger and the particular vulnerabilities of food production systems to the adverse impacts of climate change. It was said that there is a recognition that the impact of COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the limited resilience of the global food systems and limited the achievements of Sustainable Development Goals including the efforts towards self-food sufficiency. It was said that the convening welcomed the IPCC Working Group I and II continuation to the 6^th Assessment Report which highlights the vulnerability of the agricultural systems to adverse impacts of climate change. It was acknowledged that there is increasing weather and climate extreme events have exposed millions of people to acute food and water insecurity, especially small-scale food producers, low income households and Indigenous Peoples in developing countries. It was acknowledged that there is need to strengthen and enhance the existing institutional arrangements to enable consolidate and advance work on issues related to agriculture. The urgency of scaling up action and support including finance, capacity building and technology development and transfer was emphasised, to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change of farmers and other vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth. A proposal for decision to establish the Koronivia (Standing)Committee on Agriculture to enhance action in agriculture through domestic actions and international cooperation. It was stated that all constituted bodies under the Convention and operating entities of the Financial Mechanisms to consider  how to integrate and strengthen issues related to agriculture in their existing mandates and work plans and to report regularly to the Conference of Parties on these activities and at the same time identify progress and further work to be undertaken , commencing a the twenty eighth session(COP28).Parties and observer organisations were invited to submit their views on the Committee ( idea) and this was to be done by March 2023.The United Nations and other relevant institutions , agencies and entities , research community , CSOs and farmer organisations, and the private sector were called upon to strengthen cooperation and collaboration , including through partnerships with the Committee for enhanced action in the agriculture sector.

Group Photo

The effects of a third consecutive below-average rainy season are resulting in deteriorating food security outcomes driven by the impacts of poor crop and livestock production, resource-based conflict, livestock disease and mortality, and the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2022, the KFSSG’s annual Short Rains Assessment reported that there are around3.1 million food-insecure people in pastoral and marginal agricultural areas, a 48 percent increase since August 2021.²Due to the prolonged drought, the Ministry of Agriculture in Kenya reports that a total of 1.5 million livestock died in three months to march, this putting the lives of pastoralists who rely on animals at stake. Of these 253,000 were cattle, 1.21 million sheep/goats and 43 were camels.³ The most affected regions of the country are arid and Semi-Arid(ASAL) areas. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistic (KNBS), the overall inflation rate as measured by Consumer Price index(CPI) or the cost of living index, rose mainly due to an increase in food prices and those of non-alcoholic beverages.⁴

Prices of basic commodities have risen in the country for example a 2kg of maize costs between Kshs. 200 to 215 but has since been lowered to Kshs 150.Furthermore, there is currently a subsidised maize flour costing Kshs 100, however this is   cheaper maize flour is a hurdle for many people because it is not available and in supermarkets where it is found , there are large queues.The price of cooking oil has also skyrocketed. This is coming in the wake of the negative economic impacts of COVID-19 including job losses and closure of business.

Unga ( maize flour )-Kenyans Staple Food 

Organised by the Route to Food Coalition,  Food Manifesto assesses the current food security issues, demystifies some of the common myths and misconceptions about food and provides proposed interventions to address the current food security issues in Kenya as well as bold a foundation for a sustainable, equitable food system for Kenya. The Launch of the Food Manifesto was held at Villa Rosa  in Nairobi and brought together representatives from government, politicians ,both in office and aspiring, CSOs and the media. Haki Nawiri Afrikahttps://hakinawiriafrika.org/ was  one of the CSOs that were represented at the Launch of the Manifesto.

                                                                  The Food Manifesto

The Food Manifesto looks at the current food security issues, demystifies some of the common myths and misconceptions about food and provides nine (9) proposed interventions to address the current food security issues in the country as well as build a foundation for a sustainable, equitable food system for Kenya as enshrined in the Kenyan Constitution , Article 43.

Why a Food Manifesto?

A Food Manifesto is relevant to Kenya as a country because  of the  belief that it is important for political leaders to include food agenda in their political manifestos at a time when the country is gearing up to have a change of guard at all levels of leadership,to have all stakeholders think have all the relevant stakeholders think critically about matters food, the devastating impacts of hunger on Kenyans as well as the rising cost of food,the statistics that tell a grim tale of hunger and food insecurity for example over 5 million Kenyans suffer from chronic food insecurity while a further 1.5 millIon are constantly exposed to severe food insecurity and the risk of starvation.Additionally in the Kenyan context, there lacks a political commitment  to address food insecurity, the solutions presented are often quick fix which inadequately respond to the felt needs in terms of food .Agriculture also plays a key role as an employer and 70% of Kenyans are engaged in agricultural production according to FAO.

Launch of the Food Manifesto 

The Launch of the Food manifesto took place on 23^rd June 2022 and involved sharing of perspectives from government officials, CSOs, Kenyans citizens, current and aspiring politicians and media. Issues emanating from the launch focused on food as a national security, support to farmers, budgetary allocation, non functionality of agricultural extension services within the country and the view that food is a national security issue.

In Kenya , food is not accorded the importance it deserves .The prices of food have been left to market forces with food prices skyrocketing to over 100 percent in a very short period. Access to food has become a mirage for many people, with some due to vulnerability have resorted to consuming dogs, which is considered not culturally appropriate among Kenyan communities. Furthermore, people have to go to the streets to express their displeasure on rising food prices evidenced by the recent Njaa(hunger) Revolution demonstrations on the 7^th of July 2022, it is quite unfortunate that during similar demonstrations over basic commodities, many Kenyans often label activists as troublemakers.

The views of participants during the Launch of the Food Manifesto was that food should be treated as a national security issue because hunger has the power to make people go berserk. It is also important to spend more on budgetary allocation for food because food has the potential of resulting into insecurity.

Agricultural extension service and food production go hand in hand, but this is non-functional in Kenya. Annually we get to see adverts for police officers and other state security agents, however, agriculture which is the backbone of the country hardly ever gets extension service officers adverts. Agriculture has been abandoned and particularly smallholder farmers left to the mercy of corporations who sell them seeds and agrochemicals that end up affecting the soil and yields.

On regional policy environment and how it relates to food, since the Maputo Declaration, there has never been adequate allocation of resources to agriculture and that despite its importance. Agriculture is not given enough attention. It is therefore of great relevance that Kenyans meaningfully participate in budgetary processes at the county and local levels and demand more money to be allocated to agriculture. It is very wrong to quote very many statistics on agriculture being the backbone of Kenya as a country and yet citizens continue to go hungry day by day.

Youth in Kenya will not be attracted to agriculture if the problems of the past within the sector have not been resolved. Agriculture can be made to be more attractive to the youth who can engage in various levels of the value chain, as not every young person can become a farmer, but can still engage in food production at different levels. Youth in Kenya have embraced ICT and this can be used in processes such as advertising, marketing and sales. Agriculture is a devolved function in Kenya, this calls for infrastructure to be availed to support farming, if this is done, Kenyan youth will not be complaining of lack of jobs because there is a lot of potential in agriculture. Furthermore, food is something consumed every hence there is always a ready market.

It has been observed that during Kenya’s General Election campaigns very few people are discussing the subject of food. There is need for the electorates to demand realization of the right to food and interrogate political manifestos and what their stand for on matters Right to Food. Food need not be left to market forces because very many people are suffering and sadly politicians continued to campaign and organise huge rallies when sections of citizens go to bed on empty stomachs.

Food is political and that politicians are not the only stakeholders when it comes to maters food. The year 2022 is an electioneering year in Kenya, however very few people are had been discussing the right to food during these campaigns. Electorates need to demand the realization of the right to food, interrogate manifestos and question what these manifestos say about the right to food. It is absurd that politicians continued to campaign while would be voters were dying of hunger and malnutrition in many parts of the country.

Launch of the Food Manifesto

An envisioned future for Kenya, in the wake of climate crisis, rising food insecurity and skyrocketing global food prices as well as the fact that Kenyans are going into elections of new leaders, what the country requires in relation to food production in the country would be a future where resources are adequately available for agriculture, where images of farmers wearing tattered clothes and sweating in the sun is a thing of the past. Kenya also needs an environment where smallholder   farmers are supported adequately, given that agriculture is a devolved function. Consumers also need to be more conscious of what they eat and demand healthy food, produced through agroecology.

References

https://ne-np.facebook.com/nation/posts/igah-editorial-cartoon-bitly3bwpgzd/10160270960519497/

https://oxfam.org/en/press-releases/terrifying-prospect-over-quarter-billion-more-people-crashing- extreme-levels-poverty

https://reliefweb.int/report/kenya/kenya-food-security-outlook-update-february-september-

2022#:~:text=In%20February%202022%2C%20the%20KFSSG’s,percent%20increase%20since%20August%2020 21.

https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/economy/1-5m-livestock-die-on-biting-drought-3781484

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/business/article/2001443132/kenya-tops-countries- with-high-food-prices-in-latest-ranking