How Kenya can combat hidden hunger caused by climate crisis
A child is screened for malnutrition at Kanamkuny village in Turkana by county health worker Paul Ekai.
What you need to know:
- Without proper nutrition, the health and resilience of vulnerable populations will continue to decline, undermining efforts to achieve Kenya's Vision 2030.
While Kenya has made significant strides in tackling food insecurity, a recent report highlights that the country continues to face significant hunger challenges, including malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. The 2024 Global Hunger Index ranks Kenya 100th out of 127 countries, with a score of 25.0 indicating the yet unresolved hunger concerns.
Malnutrition remains a grave issue, contributing to over 50 per cent of child deaths, primarily due to deficiencies in vitamin A, zinc and iron. If current trends continue, malnutrition could cost Kenya’s economy over $38.3 billion by 2030, highlighting the urgent need for multisector action to tackle hunger and enhance national nutritional security.
The correlation between food, hunger, and poverty is further complicated by a less visible but equally disturbing adversity known as hidden hunger - micronutrient deficiencies- which plays a significant part in the nation’s disease burden. It refers to the lack of essential vitamins and minerals in diets.
Climate change directly affects the nutritional quality of crops, the foods we consume, and ultimately human health, underscoring the inescapable nexus between food systems and health outcomes.
Erratic rainfall, scorching temperatures and rising carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels are hallmarks of climate change that are silently fuelling micronutrient deficiencies. Climate change exacerbates this crisis by:
a.Undermining the effectiveness of fertilisers and making it harder to produce nutrient-dense crops.
b.Extreme heat may increase the body's need for electrolytes and vitamins, but at the same time reduce appetite and food intake, thus worsening these deficiencies.
c.Studies reveal that rising CO₂ levels are stripping staple crops of essential nutrients such as iron, zinc and protein.
The result? A grim situation that is threatening national food security and more critically the human health.
Recognising the need to tackle the impacts of climate change on agriculture, health, and livelihoods, the government has enacted key policies to strengthen the nation’s response. At the forefront is the Climate Change Act (2016), which lays the legal groundwork for a unified approach to climate action.
Complementing this is the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP; 2023–2027), a five-year roadmap designed to drive climate finance, ensure accountability, and encourage public participation.
These initiatives also aim to integrate climate action into both national and county-level planning, ensuring a coordinated and inclusive effort to build resilience and sustainability.
On the nutrition side, several key policies are leading the charge. They include the National Adaptation Plan, the National Nutrition Action Plan, Food and Nutrition Security Policy, the National Food and Nutrition Security Implementation Framework, the National Climate Change and Health Strategy and the National Public Health Strategy.
Together, these instruments provide a comprehensive roadmap for cross-sector collaboration to combat the impact of climate change on malnutrition. They specifically target critical matters like stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies, with a strong focus on protecting the most vulnerable- children, pregnant women and the elderly.
Hidden hunger is a significant, yet often overlooked, challenge in Kenya, exacerbated by climate change. Shockingly, 62 per cent of children under five suffer from vitamin A deficiency, weakening their immune systems and leaving them vulnerable to diseases.
The problem doesn’t stop there. Among adolescent girls aged 10 to 14, nearly a quarter (24 per cent) suffer from anaemia, while over half (66 per cent) have poor dietary diversity, meaning they’re not getting the essential nutrients they need to grow and thrive.
For pregnant women, 26 per cent are iron-deficient, and 43 per cent are anaemic. These deficiencies pose serious risks to both mothers and their unborn babies, leading to higher rates of illness and death.
As the country implements climate change actions, addressing hidden hunger ought to be a top priority. Without proper nutrition, the health and resilience of vulnerable populations will continue to decline, undermining efforts to achieve Kenya's Vision 2030, which aims at transforming the country into a globally competitive, prosperous nation with a high quality of life for all citizens.
It’s time to shine a light on this invisible crisis and ensure that no one is left behind.
Kenya needs a multifaceted approach to mitigate the impact of climate change on micronutrient deficiencies. Interventions include promotion of drought-resistant and nutrient-dense crops such as millet, sorghum, and leafy greens, fortification of selected crops for addressing micronutrient deficiencies, investment in sustainable farming practices to improve soil health and water management and increasing awareness about the importance of dietary diversity and consumption of micronutrient-rich foods.
Lastly, the country should fully align the enacted national policies with the best climate adaptation and nutrition strategies.
The stakes are high. We need to adopt a holistic approach that combines climate-smart agriculture, sustainable food systems, and targeted public health measures. By investing in innovation and fostering collaboration across sectors, Kenya can not only fight climate change but also secure food supplies and protect the health of its people.
Dr Magenya is a chief research scientist at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization
