Kajiado county has launched four key strategic documents that will guide it on various aspects that are important in ensuring children live a dignified life.
The four documents, namely, The Kajiado County Food and Nutrition Policy, The Kajiado County Child Care Policy, The Kajiado County Nutrition Action Plan and The Kajiado County Child Care Facilities Act (2024), were launched in partnership with Nutrition International, UNICEF, Action Foundation, and Community Initiative Agenda.
Speaking during the launch, Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku said that laying a good foundation for the children is critical in building their future and his administration is working towards making Kajiado a food-secure county that provides adequate nutritious food for all in a sustainable manner for well-being and socioeconomic development.
The governor noted that the documents were put together through the Multisectoral Platform for Nutrition, comprising the county departments of agriculture, water, social services and health, as all of them play a role in ensuring good nutrition in the county.
He pointed out that Kajiado has amazing possibilities and that is why, through his vision of a transformed and sustainable Kajiado, his administration has deliberately singled out four action areas namely; mitigating climate change, livable towns, modulated pastoralism and support for education as priority areas.
“When we work on mitigating climate change and modulated pastoralism, it goes a long way to address food security issues. We would be a food-secure county if we were able to tap into our massive potential,” he said.
While acknowledging the challenges faced by schools in providing meals for the learners due to dwindling education funds, he said that the county is committed to ensuring that learners remain in school by allocating funds to supplement efforts made by the national government and other partners.
County Executive Committee Member for Health Alex Kilowua said that the documents will allow the county to have a coordinated mechanism from a multisectoral approach in tackling nutrition issues.
“Nutrition is a health indicator and we are concerned about it not only in children under the age of five but also in lactating and pregnant women within the county,” said Kilowua.
He remarked that the documents will also help in sustainability measures, as they will help the county in allocating finances to nutrition in the county budget that will boost nutrition even in the absence of other donors.
On her part, County Nutrition Coordinator Ruth Nasinkoi said that nutrition is a critical part of health and development, as better nutrition is related to improved infant, child and maternal health; stronger immune systems; safer pregnancy and childbirth; and lower risks of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
She emphasised that good nutrition increases productivity, leads to a high IQ leading to good performance in school, boosts immunity and leads to good child growth and development.
Nasinkoi urged the community to visit healthcare facilities for nutritional information, adding that a person’s growth and development are fully dependent on the food they consume.
By Diana Meneto
