The county government of Mombasa, together with the Swiss-based organization Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), has intensified efforts to uphold food safety and hygiene standards among traders to ensure a clean and safe environment for consumers.
Through joint training sessions with GAIN, mama mbogas and traders are being equipped with the knowledge to maintain high hygiene standards and operate responsibly to safeguard public health.
The county’s Public Health Officials have also heightened awareness among hotels and food handlers, urging strict compliance with health regulations. Medical certifications, regular inspections, and official certificates are being issued to guarantee adherence.
As the festive season reaches its peak, residents are being encouraged to prioritize their health by consuming quality food, dining at certified establishments, and maintaining clean surroundings to prevent food poisoning cases and other health risks.
Speaking in Jomvu, Hildergard Wasike, the Public Health Officer of Mombasa County, noted that they have been working closely with GAIN on various food safety training initiatives. “We have done several activities together to train our traders to maintain high standards of hygiene and ensure they work in a clean environment,” Wasike stated.
GAIN is an organisation that was established in 2002 and launched by the United Nations to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. GAIN started working in Kenya in 2010 and has helped many people in matters of nutrition.
GAIN’s county coordinator, Mr John Mung’oo, highlighted that they conduct research to identify nutritional deficiencies in communities, adding that their current major project is called “Vegetables for All,” which encourages people to consume more vegetables.
“Research shows that we should eat 400 grams of vegetables and fruits daily, but the amount we consume is less than 130 grams. So we have quite a journey ahead to sensitize people countrywide about the importance of consuming more vegetables,” Mung’oo said.
He highlighted that this project is currently active in five counties: Kiambu, Machakos, Nairobi, Nakuru, and Mombasa. In Mombasa, he stated, they work with various stakeholders, including the Department of Public Health and small-scale vegetable vendors (mama mbogas).
“We have registered 2,400 small-scale vegetable vendors (mama mbogas) in Mombasa, with a target of 10,000 across Kenya. We assist these vendors by providing training on food safety and hygiene, as well as equipping them with skills to manage their businesses effectively. This includes training on branding and improving their overall presentation,” he added.
Mung’oo stated that they have conducted various research studies and discovered that mama mbogas face significant challenges, including having to wake up as early as 3 a.m. to purchase vegetables at the market.
To address this, he said they are now promoting a market facilitator model, where the youth take on the responsibility of going to the market early to deliver produce directly to the vendors at their stalls.
Unlike brokers, he specified, market facilitators are suppliers who understand the challenges faced by mama mbogas and work with them in a collaborative and supportive manner. In Mombasa County, they have successfully registered 28 market facilitators so far.
He added that they have officers who frequently visit these market facilitators to provide encouragement and mentorship on matters such as hygiene and business management.
“When it comes to meal portions, vegetables should make up half of your plate, with one-quarter consisting of carbohydrates and the remaining quarter comprising protein,” Mung’o emphasized.
Gain communications officer Mr Bonnie Musembi noted that the 2019 Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA) study for Kenya estimated that child undernutrition cost the country Sh373.9 billion in 2014. This was equivalent to 6.9 percent of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The study attributed these losses to reduced productivity, high costs of health-related treatment, and high education costs due to class repetition and absenteeism.
The study also projected that Kenya could save an average of Sh33.2 billion annually by 2030 if stunting, or faltered growth of children, was reduced to 14.7 percent and wasting to 8.4 percent.
Musembi observed that poor diets are the leading cause of global ill health, resulting in malnutrition and deficiencies such as anaemia, diminished health, and decreased productivity.
“Our interventions aim to improve the quality, quantity, and diversity of vegetables available,” he said.
Musembi noted that a study has shown that an estimated 5.2 percent of Kenyans consume the right amount of vegetables and fruits per day, while the rest are exposed to nutritional deficiencies.
Safari Ali, a market facilitator, has been in the market business for almost 20 years. He noted that he initially had 2 customers and now serves over 50 people since he became a market facilitator working in collaboration with the food fiti programme.
He added that through the food fiti, his profits have grown from 1,000 per day to over 8,000.
“As a market facilitator, I simplify mama mboga’s life and streamline their transportation of goods from the market. This makes it easier to supply goods from here, reduces costs, and ensures they receive good quality stock on time,” Safari said.
Nancy Shithaiga, a mama mboga in Jomvu, highlighted that before partnering with food fiti, she faced numerous challenges, including waking up at 3 am to go to the market. She added that transportation delays were also common, which added to the strain of having her children arrive late for school.
“I have become more efficient with my time because the market facilitator delivers vegetables directly to my stall. In the evening, I simply send a list of what I need, and by morning, everything is delivered,” she remarked.
She added that Food Fiti has been incredibly beneficial to her, especially through the training sessions she has attended. She noted that she has learnt how to maintain cleanliness in her business environment, sell high-quality products, maintain a steady clientele, and encourage her customers to eat more vegetables.
The Demographic and Health Survey 2022 shows that stunting in children stood at 18 per cent. The survey also revealed that stunting is higher among children in rural areas, at 20 per cent, compared to 12 per cent for children in urban areas.
It was noted that a diverse diet containing a wide variety of food types is more likely to provide the vitamins and minerals needed for good health, to boost brain and body development, and to bolster resistance to infections.
