By Lorraine Anyango
The Kisumu Multi-Sectoral Nutrition (MSN) Coordination team is strategically shifting its focus towards securing a sustainable future for nutrition initiatives within the county.
Recent data has highlighted the team’s significant achievements in combating malnutrition, prompting a move to establish a formal policy that ensures dedicated funding for nutrition programs in each financial year.
At the opening of a two-day workshop designed to refine the MSN’s strategic approach, Hon. Kenneth Onyango, the CECM for Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock, Fisheries and Blue Economy, made a firm commitment on behalf of the county executive to develop this crucial policy document.
“As Members of the Executive, we will consider developing a guiding Policy document that will ensure MSN Funding is budgeted for each Financial Year.” Hon Onyango said.
He emphasized the importance of enhancing county-level coordination through the use of quarterly reports derived from the MSN Scorecard and Financial Tracking Tool, allowing for accurate assessment of the county’s progress.
Furthermore, he stressed the need to expedite the finalization of the County Nutrition Action Plan (CNAP) and integrate it into the Annual Development Plans, as well as mainstreaming the Nutrition Investment Study Report to prioritize nutrition-sensitive projects across all sectors.
Hon. Onyango also highlighted the ongoing contributions of the Department of Agriculture through initiatives like the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) and the Aquaculture Business Development Program (ABDP), which directly address the nutritional needs of Kisumu residents.
The workshop also provided an opportunity to review the county’s progress in combating malnutrition, revealing a significant reduction in stunting from 18% to 9%, a decrease in underweight children from 7% to 3.5%, and a decline in childhood obesity from 6% to 2%, according to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS). However, the team acknowledged a concerning rise in wasting among children, from 0.8% to 3.0%, underscoring the need for continued vigilance and targeted interventions.
Hon. Onyango expressed his satisfaction with the MSN’s achievements over the past three years, recognizing the collaborative efforts of county directorates, NGOs, civil society organizations, and academia.
The workshop, coordinated by Kisumu County Nutrition Coordinator Ms. Rael Mwando, brought together key stakeholders, including Director Medical Services Dr. Don Ogolla, Director of Agriculture Mr. Walter Odum, and Director of Early Childhood Development (ECD) Ms. Wilkister, along with representatives from various partner organizations including the ADS Nyanza, Chesire, KRCS, Kidogo early years , KMET and Healthy entrepreneur.
Participants engaged in discussions reviewing the MSN Scorecard and Financial Tracking Tool, mapping stakeholder roles, and developing strategies to address identified challenges, CNAP ETR report sharing through an Evidence repository CNAP road map and
MSN implementation in Kisumu County. The workshop, supported by ADS Nyanza, emphasized the importance of collaborative action in improving nutrition outcomes in Kisumu County.
