GAIN in Kenya
Healthier diets
FOR ALL
GAIN’s mission is to advance nutrition outcomes by improving the consumption of nutritious and safe food.
Healthier diets
GAIN in Kenya
Healthier diets
FOR ALL
From fast food to fresh: How to shift Kenya's eating habits to nutritious, farm-to-fork foods
Better nutrition. For Kenya.
The Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA) Kenya Study (2019) estimated a loss of Kenya Shillings 373.9 billion (USD 3.1 billion) equivalent to 6.9 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2014 due to child undernutrition. Childhood malnutrition results in reduced productivity, high costs of health-related treatment of malnutrition, and high education costs due to class repetition and absenteeism.
Kenya Faces the Triple Burden of Malnutrition
1
UNDERNUTRITION
Children bear the brunt of malnutrition, which negatively impacts their future productivity
18% 
Stunting
Low height for age
5% 
Wasting
Too thin for their height
10%
Underweight
Low weight for their age
2
MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES
Zinc, vitamin A, iron, and iodine are the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies.
70% 
National zinc deficiency prevalence.
81.6% of preschool children under 5 years and 67.9% of pregnant women.
41.6% 
of women of reproductive age, aged 15 to 49 years have anaemia,and 69% of children suffer from iron deficiency
22% 
children (6 -23 months) consume a minimum acceptable diet
3
OVER-NUTRITION
Overweight and obesity and associated diet-related non- communicable diseases.
The rate of diet-related NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES continues to rise
1 IN 4 adults 
is overweight and/or obese
5.2% 
Only 5.2% of Kenyan adults consume the recommended five servings of fruit and vegetables per day
GAIN's Contribution
Kenya is one of the countries impacted by malnutrition. GAIN’s Strategy aims to transform food systems to make healthier diets from sustainable food systems accessible to all people and especially those whose are most vulnerable to shocks. By 2027, we aim to improve the access of 1.5 billion people to nutritionally enhanced staple foods, improve the access of 25 million people to healthier diets, and support positive food system change in 10 countries.
GAIN has been improving nutrition in Kenya since 2010, initially supporting the Government of Kenya in fortifying staple foods. Over time, GAIN has expanded its approach to strengthen food systems by enhancing access to and demand for nutritious, safe food. Through partnerships with governments, businesses, and civil society, GAIN works to sustainably improve food availability and consumption, especially for vulnerable populations. By supporting national and county governments with expertise in nutrition and policy development, GAIN plays a key role in shaping food systems governance and driving transformation.
Impact
GAIN Kenya has achieved remarkable progress in enhancing nutrition and health across the nation.
0
Initiatives to improve Nutritional Quality
0
Years of Impact Improving Health and Nutrition
0
Children reached with nutrition programs
Our Strategy in Kenya
GAIN’s strategy aims to transform food systems, making healthier diets accessible to all, especially the vulnerable.
Some of the key milestones in Kenya include:
- Influencing policy for increased access to safe and nutritious diets in about 15 out of the 47 Counties in Kenya
- Strengthening large scale food fortification efforts in Kenya and the establishment of Food
- Safety Coordination Committees in four Counties (Mombasa, Nakuru, Nairobi and Kiambu).
- Supported about 150 businesses with tailored technical assistance and grants
- Supporting more than 200,000 farmers to grow biofortified beans
- Kiambu and Machakos County city level dashboards developed to inform decision making on food and nutrition security.
- More than 100,000 smallholder farmers, workers and their families within the tea zones in Kericho County supported to access safe and nutritious diets.
Vision for 2027
1.5 Billion people with access to nutritionally enhanced staple foods.
7Million Kenyans with access to healthier diets.
Positive food system changes in 10/47 Counties.
Head of Office-GAIN Kenya
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Ruth Okowa
Country Director, Kenya
Programmes and Partnerships
CASCADE
CAtalyzing Strengthened policy aCtion for heAlthy Diets and ResiliencE (CASCADE) is a Dutch-funded project whose goal is to improve food security and contribute to the reduction of malnutrition of at least 5 million women of reproductive age and children under five in Benin, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Mozambique.
Vegetables for All
Vegetables for All is a Dutch Government-funded five-year project that aims to improve dietary diversity for 1.1 million urban and peri-urban Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) consumers by increasing consumption of vegetables in alignment with global guidelines
Nutrition in ASALs Within Integrated Resilient Institutions (Nawiri)
Nutrition in ASALs Within Integrated Resilient Institutions (Nawiri), is a USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) five-year research and development program that is being implemented in the arid and semi-arid counties of Isiolo and Marsabit in Kenya.
SUN Business Network (SBN)
Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network (SBN) is the world’s leading private sector focused nutrition initiative. SBN is one of the six Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) networks (Government Network, UN Network, Academia and Research Network, Civil Society, and Donor Network).
CAtalyzing Strengthened policy aCtion for heAlthy Diets and ResiliencE (CASCADE)
CASCADE is a Dutch-funded project whose goal is to improve food security and contribute to the reduction of malnutrition of at least 5 million women of reproductive age and children under five in Benin, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Mozambique.
Vegetables for All
Vegetables for All is a Dutch Government-funded five-year project that aims to improve dietary diversity for 1.1 million urban and peri-urban Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) consumers by increasing consumption of vegetables in alignment with global guidelines
Nutrition in ASALs Within Integrated Resilient Institutions (Nawiri)
Nutrition in ASALs Within Integrated Resilient Institutions (Nawiri), is a USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) five-year research and development program that is being implemented in the arid and semi-arid counties of Isiolo and Marsabit in Kenya.
SUN Business Network (SBN)
Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network (SBN) is the world’s leading private sector focused nutrition initiative. SBN is one of the six Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) networks (Government Network, UN Network, Academia and Research Network, Civil Society, and Donor Network).
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Contact Us
Nairobi, Kenya
3rd Floor, 197 Lenana Place, Lenana Road
Box office: P.O. Box 13733 – 00800
Telephone +254 773 572 103
Ruth Okowa
Country Director, Kenya