More than half of Kenyans eat inadequate food quantities

FIFTY-EIGHT percent of Kenyans have been consuming inadequate food quantities following the outbreak of coronavirus, a new report has shown.

NAIROBI - More than half of the 53 million Kenyans have been consuming inadequate food quantities following the outbreak of coronavirus, a new report has shown.

The report,  Food Situation During the Covid-19 Pandemic  by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), says while food was generally available, many people had their diet compromised mainly because of the rising costs.

The report that KNBS posted on its website says the situation was worse during the first and second wave of coronavirus.

At least 15, 840 people were sampled during the first wave and another 14, 616 in the second wave. The first wave was between May 2 and May 9, 2020 while the second wave was experienced between May 30 and June 6, 2020.

The study looked at availability of food, accessibility to markets, changes in food prices and generally, the food insecurity situation in the country.

“Even though food remained generally available in most parts of the country, the analysis of food insecurity experience revealed that at least 58 percent of Kenyans were consuming inadequate quantities than they would normally consume, compromising their diet quality,” reads the report.

KNBS said the report was based  the Covid-19 Socio- Economic Impact Survey it released in September last year.

The latest report shows most households (80 percent) in most counties reported availability of widely purchased foodstuff only that the prices were higher.

Maize flour and rice prices increased by an average 18 and 16 percent respectively.

The agency said investments in early warning systems coupled with institutional and technical capacities should be enhanced to enable the country to respond to food insecurities during unpredicted calamities. – THE STANDARD, Kenya.