Despite progress in recent years, malnutrition remains a major public health challenge in Kenya, disproportionately affecting women, children, and adolescents. According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), 18 % of children under five are stunted (chronically undernourished), 10 % are underweight, and 5 % are wasted (acutely malnourished). Overweight and obesity are also emerging concerns, with approximately 3 % of children under five overweight, highlighting a “double burden” of undernutrition and overnutrition coexisting within the same population.
Maternal nutrition is equally concerning. Anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies are widespread: about 41.6 % of
pregnant women and 26.3 % of preschool children are anaemic, while deficiencies in folate and zinc affect a large share of women and children. Poor dietary diversity, with only a minority of adults consuming adequate servings of fruits and vegetables, compounds these issues and limits healthy growth and development.
The consequences are farreaching. Childhood stunting, a result of chronic undernutrition, impairs cognitive development, reduces school performance, and limits lifetime productivity. Maternal undernutrition contributes to anaemia, low birth weight, and increased risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Socioeconomic and geographic disparities persist, with higher malnutrition levels in rural and arid regions and among the poorest households.
Kenya’s nutrition landscape is shaped by food insecurity, poverty, limited access to diverse and nutrientrich diets, and gaps in nutrition services and education. Rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles also contribute to rising overweight and obesity, increasing the risk of dietrelated noncommunicable diseases.
Addressing this complex challenge requires coordinated multisectoral action to improve access to nutritious foods, strengthen maternal and child nutrition services, and empower families with knowledge and support for optimal diet and feeding practices.
