Food Rights

In Africa, fewer pesticides are used than in other regions of the world. Nevertheless the 33 million smallholders are increasingly becoming the focus of pesticide companies. There they also sell what has been banned in the European Union.

Most of the pesticides used in Kenya are highly hazardous. Toxic products are cheaper for farmers despite their negative consequences and are mostly used on maize, wheat, coffee, potatoes, and tomatoes.

The term subsidy is often misconstrued to mean reduced costs. Far from the truth, subsidies actually increase the cost of items in the end through long bureaucratic processes needed to administer them. Subsidies therefore do not lower the cost of items. Definitely, the reduced price of a commodity’s market price is paid from our collective pocket. This could be though government coffers, taxes, or by foregoing services that could have been in the first place paid for by resources used in the subsidy program.

It is doubtful that the next president of Kenya will be able to end the rampant food insecurity in the country if the manifestos of frontrunners of the country’s August 9, 2022 presidential election are anything to go by. The frontrunners Raila Odinga of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya alliance and William Ruto of Kenya Kwanza unveiled their manifestos on June 6, 2022 and June 30 respectively. Both documents focus, among others, on improving education, health, manufacturing, women affairs, national security, water provision and leadership. Indeed, these are key areas of concern for the citizens. In particular, the runaway cost of education, healthcare and food insecurity are cause for alarm to many Kenyans

The Right to Food Coalition, a lobby group that brings together 12 civil society organisations, has today launched the Food Manifesto which are policy proposals for political parties and leaders to adopt in their manifestos.

The second iteration of the Pest Control Products Bill, 2022 was circulated in April for public comment. It marks an urgent update to the existing legislation, which was assented into law four decades ago, with one revision in 2012. Between then and now, science has demonstrated the negative impact of pesticides on human health and the environment. Every year around 385 million pesticide poisonings occur worldwide.

Close to six decades have passed since Kenya gained her independence. Perhaps this is a reason for celebration, but not in the realm of food and nutrition. Millions of Kenyans are still stretching begging bowls each year for relief food and not to forget the cost of food which has skyrocketed making affordability out of reach for many especially in the urban areas.

Food is a crucial subject the world over. All aspects of how we produce, process, distribute and access food is increasingly coming under sharp, serious scrutiny. This is partly due to the universal understanding of food as a basic right – necessary for life rather than a commodity we trade, invent, re-invent and innovate with little consideration of the implications that has on access, safety and quality. Various discussions have been brought to the table, mainly trying to figure out the best approach to our food and farming systems and what approach gives a better chance to end hunger and malnutrition; now and in the days to come.

According to FAO, pollinators such as bees, birds and bats, affect 35 percent of the world's crop production, increasing outputs of 87 of the leading food crops worldwide, plus many plant-derived medicines. Talking about harmful pesticides in our commonly consumed foods then becomes a complex matter to address to the public.

Read more on the Route to Food Initiative, a project of the Heinrich Boell Foundation.