A decade of rapid economic growth, the inclusion of food and nutrition security in the government’s ‘big four’ priorities, constitutional changes that devolve administrative responsibilities to county governments and the country’s openness to innovation offer opportunities for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2 on Zero Hunger and improved nutrition in Kenya. However, even though the country has recently acquired lower-middle-income status, the increased wealth has not benefited all Kenyans equally. Over one third of the population still lives under the international poverty line and social, economic and gender disparities remain.

Access to adequate quantities of nutritious food remains a challenge for many, especially in arid and semi-arid regions which make up 80 percent of the country’s land area.  Factors include rapid population growth – at a rate of 2.9 percent a year – climate change, stagnating agricultural production and inefficient food systems. Food insecure families typically live in rural areas, are poor and depend on daily agricultural labour for income. Families headed by women are more likely to be food insecure than those headed by men. 

Malnutrition remains unacceptably high, with 29 percent of children in rural areas and 20 percent of those living in cities stunted. Significant vitamin and mineral deficiencies are a severe public health problem and some 1.5 million people living with HIV have their nutrition status undermined by their condition.

Agriculture remains the main economic driver but is very vulnerable to climate shocks. Unpredictable rainfall and recurring droughts contribute to the disruption of crops – 95 percent of which are rain-fed – and the erosion of soils. Inefficiencies in food systems –  the networks that are needed to produce and transform food, and ensure it reaches consumers – lead to high prices and insufficient market supplies, limiting the availability of, and access to, food. 

Kenya hosts 500,000 refugees, mainly in camps in remote, food-insecure counties. Unable to work or move freely, refugees are highly dependent on international assistance. Opportunities for fostering self-reliance are being promoted and may be expanded to larger refugee populations.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is accelerating its shift from the direct provision of food assistance and services in Kenya to the strengthening of national systems and capacities to deliver food and nutrition security.

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48.5 million
population
35.6%
of people live on less than US$ 1.90 a day
29%
of children in rural areas are stunted

WFP in Kenya

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What the World Food Programme is doing in Kenya

  • Crisis response

    WFP provides refugees living in Kenyan camps with unconditional food and nutrition assistance through cash and food transfers, while investing in solutions that increase refugees’ self-reliance including supporting livelihoods diversification. WFP will only undertake relief assistance in the country in exceptional circumstances in the event of a shock that exceeds national capacities.

  • Resilience building

    WFP supports resilient food system by providing conditional food or cash assistance in food insecure communities to fill their immediate food gaps as they create climate-resilient assets for increasing production and diversifying livelihoods. WFP also supports smallholder farmers in accessing markets, agricultural inputs, credit and technologies, and works with traders and retailers to address inefficiencies in food supply chains.

  • Capacity strengthening

    WFP supports national and county government authorities in ensuring that their respective safety nets and nutrition action plans are inclusive, integrated and effective at reducing poverty and hunger and that the emergency preparedness, response and recovery mechanisms can meet the humanitarian needs of crisis-affected populations.

  • Service delivery

    WFP works to ensure that government, humanitarian and development partners can benefit from effective and cost-efficient logistics services – including air transport, common coordination platforms and improved commodities supply chains – to improve the delivery of relief to refugees and the quality of health services provided by the Government.

Publications

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In focus

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Kenya news releases

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Partners and donors

Achieving Zero Hunger is the work of many. Our work in Kenya is made possible by the support and collaboration of our partners and donors, including:

Find out more about the state of food security in Kenya

Visit the food security analysis page

Operations in Kenya

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Contacts

Nairobi

UN Gigiri Compound, Nairobi, Kenya

Email

WFP.Kenya@wfp.org

Phone: +254 20 7622043 , UN Complex Switchboard +254 20 7621234

Fax:

For media inquiries

WFP.Kenya@wfp.org