Nairobi 17th October, 2023
Nairobi City County’s Food, Agriculture & Natural Resources Sub-Sector has yesterday donated foodstuffs to Kayole Girls Rehabilitation Centre, to mark this Year’s World Food Day celebrations.
The foodstuffs included assorted vegetables, green bananas, Maize and other farm produce harvested from this year’s Nairobi International Trade Fair demonstration farms at the show ground, which were used to educate the show-goers on the latest agriculture and food technologies.
Other donations from the Sub Sector staff members’ contributions were; Cooking oil, Chapati and Ugali flour, Milk, bread, Toiletries, Rice, Sugar, washings soaps, cereals and fruits.
The County Director Crops and Urban Forestry Ms. Mary Kibira explained that the day is celebrated annually across the globe where food issues are brought about.
” Food need to be made accessible, available and safe. Article 43 of the Kenya constitution recognizes that everyone has a right to have food. When people are food insufficient, there cannot be peace.” Said Ms. Kibira.
Ms. Kibira also encouraged the girls to appreciate the fact that they are not in the streets anymore but in a safe place where they are taken good care of.
Ms. Rose Randal, the County Director for Food Systems stated that Governor Sakaja’s administration is doing everything possible to ensure Nairobi is food secure.
She also emphasized the need to take care of water from its source to the consumption.
This Year’s World Food Day Celebrations theme is; “Water is life, Water is food. Leave no one behind.”
Kayole Girls Rehabilitation Centre is the only one among the four Children Centres managed by the Nairobi City County, housing girls rescued from the streets and other vulnerable situations.
The County Deputy Director for Social Services Mr. Robert Muema expressed his gratitude to the department of Food and Agriculture for choosing to celebrate the day at the children’s home. He also hailed the County Government for sustaining the institution that started way back in 2003 and has seen several girls rescued, Educated and reintegrated back to the community.
“Currently, the center houses 28 girls from ages 6-18 years and they are all enrolled in different schools. Our duty as Social Services department is to offer care and protection to the girls.” Stated Ms. Rosemary Kibathi, the Assistant Director Social Services.
Ms. Rosemary mentioned that majority of the girls were not around to receive the donations as they were in school sitting for the end term examinations.
The two departments; Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Social Services agreed to closely work together to establish vegetable gardens and small stock in the center and other Children Centres run by the County to enable them have access to adequate, safe and nutritious food.
County Director Livestock and Fisheries, Ms. Margaret Ndumia mentioned that the Food and Agriculture department is willing to establish small stocks like rabbit and poultry rearing in the institution for protein supplement as well as for income generation.
Baraka Maitha; a girl from the Centre appreciated the Nairobi County for giving them a shelter and a place to call home. She also thanked Food and Agriculture Directors for giving them hope and encouraging them to work hard.
World Food Day is an International day celebrated every year Worldwide on October 16th to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945.
The Directors were accompanied by their Deputy Directors; Mr. Titus Nyakundi (Livestock), Mr. Joseph Kinyanjui (Crops), Jane Mogute (Veterinary) and Sub County Agriculture and Livestock Officers. Others were Social Services and Gender Departments staff.
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