To prevent cancer, let us reform our food systems
Breast cancer is the leading cancer in Kenya, accounting for 16.1 per cent of all cancers.
What you need to know:
- People with chronic illnesses such as cancer have been impacted by the hard economic times disproportionately.
- The right to safe, adequate and nutritious food is a human right recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Cancer and malnutrition are a huge burden to Kenya’s health system, impacting families, communities and the economy. In Kenya, cancer is the third leading cause of death, and food insecurity continues to impede the fight against cancer both as a risk factor and due to poor access that negatively impacts the quality of life of patients.
People with chronic illnesses such as cancer have been impacted by the hard economic times disproportionately. In the last couple of years, the cost of living in Kenya has been rising, leading to major protests in the country.
The Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis reports that in 2023, inflation averaged 7.7 per cent compared to 7.6 per cent in 2022. This was mainly due to the surge in fuel prices. In 2024, other changes, including the introduction of Taifa Care, have greatly impacted household expenditure on food items, negatively affecting those who are already underserved.
Climate change continues to exacerbate food insecurity in Kenya and across the globe. In 2024, the impacts of floods, droughts and other climate change extremes devastated livelihoods. It is important to note is that Kenya and other African countries emit the least amount of global green gas emission yet, Africa is the most affected by climate change.
During the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) last year, one of the major highlights was the impacts of climate change on food security, a reality that needs urgent action.
Risk of cancer
The right to safe, adequate and nutritious food is a human right recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In Kenya, Article 43 (1) of the Constitution provides that every person has the right to be free from hunger and have adequate food of acceptable quality.
It is therefore critical that an intersectional lens is adopted when addressing the challenge of hunger and cancer recognizing the different vulnerabilities of diverse populations.
Existing evidence shows that ultra-processed foods and fast foods increase the risk of cancer. The World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization recommend restricting consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Therefore, the promotion of indigenous food does not only preserve culture and food sovereignty, it is also helps to prevent lifestyle diseases such cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
Using an intersectional and multisector lens, stakeholders must work together to promote research and knowledge generation, awareness creation, and policies and infrastructure on the intersections of food and cancer to ensure that every person enjoys the right to safe, reliable, accessible and sufficient amounts of food.
Ms Obonyo is the Executive Director of Community Voices Network