Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are placing an increasing burden on Kenya’s health system, with unhealthy diets remaining one of the leading risk factors. As children and young people continue to face growing exposure to unhealthy food marketing, particularly through digital platforms, empowering youth to advocate for healthier food environments has never been more important. With more than 80% of Kenya’s population aged 35 years and below, young people have a unique opportunity to influence public priorities and drive lasting policy change.
Recognising this opportunity, KELIN convened youth champions, advocates, nutrition experts and civil society partners for a two-day Youth Engagement Convening to develop the Healthy Food Alliance and strengthen youth leadership in healthy food advocacy. The convening focused on developing a Youth Action Plan and establishing a Youth Advisory Secretariat that will coordinate youth-led advocacy efforts across Kenya. These initiatives build on the Alliance’s commitment to creating meaningful and sustained youth participation in advancing healthier food environments.
Throughout the discussions, participants reflected on the real-life barriers that make healthy eating difficult, including the cost of nutritious foods, the widespread availability of unhealthy products, peer influence, and the need for clearer nutrition information such as Front-of-Pack Labelling. They also explored how digital platforms can be transformed from spaces that promote unhealthy foods into powerful tools for education, awareness, and advocacy.
The discussions challenged participants to think beyond the convening itself. As Pauline Omoto reminded the group, “as we’re working on our youth advocacy plan, we need to think about the end goal. What are we hoping to achieve in the end?”
Shakira Omata also encouraged participants to centre communities throughout the process, noting, “we have to work WITH the community, not for the community.”
A Healthy Food Alliance Youth Advisory Secretariat was established to provide a structured platform for young people to coordinate advocacy efforts at both national and county levels. As the convening concluded, one message was clear: meaningful youth engagement is essential to creating healthier food environments in Kenya. With a Youth Action Plan now in place and the Youth Advisory Secretariat established, the Healthy Food Alliance has taken an important step towards strengthening youth leadership in healthy food advocacy in Kenya.
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:
Pauline Omoto , Program Officer Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV & AIDS (KELIN)
Kuwinda Lane, Karen C, off Langáta Road
Email: paulineomoto@kelinkenya.org
Website: https://www.kelinkenya.org
