KELIN recently joined policymakers, public health officials, nutrition experts, legal practitioners, civil society organizations, and development partners in Naivasha for the 2nd Draft Analysis Retreat on the Food, Drugs and Chemical Substances Act (Cap. 254). The meeting formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Kenya’s food laws and respond to emerging nutrition, food safety, and public health challenges.
Convened by the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI) – Division of Food Safety (DFS), with support from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), the five-day retreat brought together stakeholders to review proposed amendments to Kenya’s primary food law and identify gaps limiting effective regulation of the country’s evolving food environment.
The review comes at a time when Kenya is experiencing growing public health concerns linked to unhealthy diets, increasing exposure of children to harmful food marketing, and limited access to clear nutrition information for consumers. Discussions during the retreat focused on key priority areas including food fortification, food safety and quality, accountability within food systems, Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL), and restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy foods to children.
During the discussions, KELIN advocated for stronger legal and policy safeguards to promote healthier food environments and strengthen consumer protection in Kenya. In particular, KELIN pushed for provisions supporting mandatory Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling on unhealthy foods, as well as measures to restrict the marketing of unhealthy foods to children.
KELIN noted that stronger nutrition labelling supports consumers’ constitutional right to information under Article 46 of the Constitution of Kenya, while restrictions on harmful food marketing are necessary to uphold the best interests of the child and protect children from harmful commercial practices.
The retreat also highlighted the importance of ensuring that Kenya’s food laws evolve to address emerging nutrition and public health challenges affecting present and future generations.
As the amendment process continues, KELIN remains committed to supporting evidence-informed legal and policy reforms that promote healthier food environments, strengthen accountability within food systems, and improve access to nutrition information for all Kenyans.
Article by Shekina Plowman (she/her), MPH Black Health Candidate, University of Toronto, currently on practicum placement at KELIN.
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For more information, please contact:
Trevor Mwangi, Programme Officer
KELIN
Email: trevormwangi@kelinkenya.org
