Nairobi,16th October 2024
In the spirit of celebrating this year’s World Food Day themed,” right to food for better life and better future, the County Subsector of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources donated foodstuffs harvested from the agriculture demonstration plots, at the recently concluded Nairobi International Trade Fair, to Makadara and Kayole girls’ rehabilitation Centres.
The food stuffs included assorted vegetables, fruits and other farm produce. Other donations including cooking oil, sugar, rice, bar soaps, cooking flour, meat, chicken and toiletries were from the Subsector staff members’ contributions.
Green Nairobi County Executive Committee Member Ms. Maureen Njeri in a statement read on her behalf by the County Chief Officer Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Ms. Gladwell Cheruiyot who represented her at the function said that the donations reflected County’s dedication to ensuring that even the most vulnerable in the society have access to nutritious food.
Ms. Njeri called on all agriculture stakeholders to play an active role in strengthening Nairobi’s food systems as well as focus in innovation, sustainability and inclusivity to ensure that the right to food becomes a reality for every resident of Nairobi.
The County Chief Officer in charge of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Ms. Gladwell Cheruiyot mentioned that food safety remains a top priority for the Subsector in its quest to ensure food consumed across Nairobi is free from harmful chemicals and meets nutritional standards.” In Nairobi food security is not just about availability but also about safety, nutrition and affordability. This World Food Day reminds us all of our collective responsibility to address global hunger and malnutrition. ” She stated.
Ms. Cheruiyot stressed out the need to embrace urban agriculture and assured that the Subsector will continue engaging partners from smallholder farmers to the corporate sector in a bid to build a robust food system in the Capital City.
The Chief Officer promised that the Subsector will collaborate with all children Centres with available spaces to produce food for the children and also committed to support them with fruit trees to enable the children to have access to nutritious food.
Makadara rehabilitation Centre currently houses 100 rescued children from the streets, with 30 of them currently in high school. While Kayole Girls rehabilitation Centre is the only one among the four Children Centres managed by the county housing girls rescued from the streets and other vulnerable situations.
Speaking also at Makadara Centre which hosted the event, the Director for Social services Mr. Shem Ombura appreciated the kind gesture from the Agriculture team and promised to provide available spaces within the Centres for agricultural use.
Mr. David Arika, the in charge of Makadara rehabilitation Centre expressed gratitude for the generous donations and called for more well-wishers to come in and support the needy children. He appreciated the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Subsector for the Greenhouse installed at the Centre, adding that it will go a long way in assisting them with fresh farm produce.
The Agriculture team also had an opportunity to serve and share Dishi na County meals with the children.
Ms. Cheruiyot thanked the Nairobi Governor H.E Sakaja Johnson for his support to schools and other vulnerable institutions by introducing the Dishi na County where children get hot and nutritious meals.
The event was also attended by partners from Afya Max led by Dr. Joseph Nduma who advised on proper diets and healthy lifestyles. They urged people to embrace agriculture, adding that most of the sickness experienced today is because people have ignored agriculture.
World Food Day which is marked every 16th of October, is an annual global commemoration that aims to raise awareness and take action against global hunger and malnutrition. The day serves as a reminder of the need to ensure food security and access to nutritious food for all. It also highlights the importance of sustainable agriculture and food production to address global food challenges.
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