Kiambu changemakers trained in child nutrition advocacy

Grassroots leaders in Kiambu county have been trained on the need for comprehensive education and advocacy on child nutrition, particularly through creative arts.

Participants included local leaders, the media, policymakers and theatre practitioners.

The training was organised by the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy analysis network (FANRPAN).

FANRPAN director of policy advocacy and communications Francis Hale said the training focused on policies that better cater to children's nutrition needs, particularly through methods of storytelling through a programme dubbed as “Theatre for Policy Advocacy”.

“A mother to a newborn might have a clashing opinion with her mother-in-law on how to feed her child and that's where TPA comes in," he said.

"We are dismantling the 'them and us' position associated with having scientists and researchers dictating what should be done within a community. In order to do that, we understand that some conversations can be easily communicated through an artistic medium.” 

 Hale said by training people from different key sectors such media, local leaders, policy advocates, they would go back to their communities to raise awareness, spark dialogue and influence policies that would cater to child nutrition.

“When it comes to public awareness on good practices in the food and nutrition sector, we understand it might not always be the first thing on people's minds even though we eat daily, that is why we need to make it present through all our mediums, to create a healthier environment for our children to grow in,” he said

According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey of 2022, 28 per cent of Children in Kiambu county are stunted, wasted, underweight or overweight due to lack of good nutrition.

The survey attributed this to factors such as not breastfeeding children for the first six months and unhealthy food consumption such as giving children sweet treats and lack of education on nutrition.

Judy Wairimu, one of the trainees, said she was happy to have understood what nutrition means and why it needs serious attention. 

“Sometimes, it's good to have a dialogue between the old and new generation to see each other's points of view while also basing our conversations on evidence,” she said.

Kenya is making strides in addressing malnutrition through the Kenya Nutrition Action Plan (KNAP) 2023-27, which seeks to tackle the triple burden of malnutrition, undernutrition, obesity and rising non-communicable diseases while prioritising maternal and child nutrition, enhancing food systems and building resilience against climate change's effects on food security.