“Regional Dialogue on the Right to Food: Taking progressive steps towards Zero Hunger by 2030” 19th April 2024.
Joint Communiqué
We, The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA), Rural Outreach Africa (ROA) Welthungerhilfe (WHH), the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), the Lake Region Food Systems Network (LRFSN), and the Right to Food Coalition, on 19th April 2024, held a multi-stakeholder convening in Kisumu, on the Right to Food in Kenya, under the theme: Regional Dialogue on the Right to Food: Taking Progressive Steps Towards Zero Hunger by 2030, at the Grand Royal Swiss Hotel, Kisumu.
This people driven initiative was covered by local and national media houses. It brought together 137 participants (76 female (55%) and 61 (45%) male) from Kakamega, Nandi, Homabay, Kisii, Bungoma, Migori, Busia and Vihiga counties in Kenya. The participants included the Governor of Vihiga County, H.E. Dr. Wilber Otichillo, who was joined by members of his county executive, including 4 county executive members and 5 directors from Vihiga County Government. The county assembly of Vihiga was represented by the Deputy Speaker, who was accompanied by the Senior Clerk to the Assembly. The dialogue also attracted 156 viewers through the live streaming of the event. Participants also comprised of non-state actors working in private sector, non-governmental organizations, farmer and consumer organizations, and social justice centers.
The dialogues aimed to create and stimulate collaboration and action among stakeholders, including government, non-governmental organizations, civil society, academia, the private sector, and the media, to explore avenues for effectively implementing the right to food in Kenya. Additionally, we aimed to mobilize support for right to food legislation, identify mechanisms for accountability and redress, and raise awareness about the importance of addressing food insecurity through a rights-based approach.
The dialogue focused on the fundamental human right to food, highlighting its significance in ensuring basic dignity and well-being for all individuals. Speakers emphasized the local challenges and violation related to right to food such as intersectoral coordination, financing of programs and institutions, political goodwill to end corruption, elimination of structural discrimination and inequalities, climate change challenges, and including the voice of the vulnerable in policy processes. The Governor of Vihiga County, H.E. Dr. Wilber Otichillo emphasized accountability to be very essential for both citizens and duty bearers in upholding the right to food, especially in key programs such as farmers grants and trade grants. The most affected are people with insecure livelihoods, lacking social protection, and access to productive assets like land and capital, the poor, smallholders, the elderly, people with disabilities, children, ethnic minorities, people living with chronic illnesses, women, and youth. They discussed the importance of policies and initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable food systems, such as agricultural reforms, social safety nets, and sustainable farming practices. Kisumu and Vihiga Counties are leading in the formulation of legislations to address the right to food for its citizens. Additionally, the Dialogue emphasized the need for Muitistakeholders collaboration to address hunger and malnutrition effectively. Overall, it served as a platform for raising awareness and mobilizing action to uphold and protect the right to food for everyone.
We therefore call for overall, a rights-based approach to the right to food not just a matter of charity or goodwill, but a legally enforceable entitlement rooted in human dignity and social justice through;
- Acknowledgment of the Right to Food: Participants affirmed the intrinsic value and importance of the right to food as a fundamental human right essential for the dignity and well-being of all individuals through the enactment of legislation to provide a legal framework for the realization of the right to food, with accountability and enforcement mechanisms.
- Strengthening Monitoring and Accountability Mechanisms: There was consensus on the need to strengthen monitoring and accountability mechanisms to track progress towards the realization of the right to food, including the establishment of clear indicators and benchmarks. Adoption of good governance practices such as grievance redress mechanisms and meaningful public participation at the county level to enhance service delivery and citizen participation on key programs related to right to food.
- Empowerment and Capacity Building: It was emphasized that empowering individuals and communities through education, skills development, and access to resources is essential for sustainable food security and the realization of the right to food in the lake region.
- Policy Advocacy: Participants resolved to advocate for the formulation and implementation of policies and programs that prioritize the right to food, promote sustainable agriculture i.e. agroecology practices, ensure equitable access to resources i.e. land tenure rights for vulnerable populations and address the root causes of food insecurity in the region. We propose the counties to hold a Governors Day with farmers on meaningful dialogue and collaboration on issues pertinent to sustainable food systems to enrich the discussions and contribute to the formulation of impactful policies that support our communities across the lake region.
- Full devolvement of Agriculture, functions and resources to follow devolution. The National Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, develop frameworks to allow County Governments to control procurement and distribution of critical agricultural inputs such as fertilizers.
- Investment in infrastructure such as roads, irrigation systems, and storage facilities can significantly enhance the efficiency of food distribution and reduce post-harvest losses, ultimately benefiting producers and consumers.
- Fostering innovation and technology adoption in agriculture can unlock new opportunities for growth and resilience. This includes promoting climate-smart agricultural practices, leveraging digital platforms for market access, and supporting agribusiness ventures through incubation and mentorship programs.
Commitment to Collaboration: Recognizing the multi-faceted nature of food security and the need for coordinated efforts, there is need to enhancing collaboration and partnership among all stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, private sector entities, and communities. In conclusion, we acknowledge the efforts of Right to Food Ambassadors who have done excellent work in championing the right to food by embracing sustainable practices such as agroecology, facilitating dialogue between the community and duty bearers as well as documenting and reporting violations of the right to food. We further reaffirm our commitment to collaborative action towards achieving Zero Hunger by 2030, as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals. We recognize the importance of collective action, political will, and sustained stakeholder engagement in realizing the right to food for all Kenyans.