Public and private sector stakeholders have unanimously agreed to work together to anticipate and respond effectively to food safety incidents, regardless of their severity. Deliberating during the annual World Food Safety Day, participants, including representatives from the State, County departments, development partners and food industry actors, noted the need to strengthen food safety resilience and preparedness through collaborative efforts and advocacy campaigns.
“We need all stakeholders to collaborate to mitigate food safety risks as outlined in the Health Policy of 2014-2030,” said Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Health, Mary Muthoni, HSC. Patrice Kilemi, PS Cooperative, stressed the need for legislative reforms to address mismanagement and encourage people to join cooperatives for ease access of market, optimize production, and ensuring preparedness for unexpected challenges.
CECM Hon. Eric Kyongo who represented the county noted that food safety is a right, not a privilege, and emphasized the importance of sustained investment, regulatory strengthening, and robust surveillance. He noted that Taita Taveta County’s Governor Andrew Mwadime – Wakujaa ‘s vision, which focuses on enhancing food safety and security, aligns perfectly with the theme of preparing for the unexpected.
Photo: Credit: CECM Hon. Eric Kyongo – Agriculture Taita Taveta County
CECMs from across the country insisted on adequate resource allocation and disbursement to the counties to achieve this role and implement robust measures and innovative solutions to strengthen the county’s food safety systems. The summit, organized in partnership with Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust – MESPT through the AgriFI Programme,an initiative of the European Union and DANIDA, reflects Kenya’s commitment to improving food safety and preparing for unexpected challenges.
Globally, food safety remains a critical issue, with approximately 600 million people falling ill and 420,000 dying annually due to foodborne diseases, particularly affecting children under five in Africa and Asia. This summit underscores the urgent need to shift focus from treatment to prevention, ensuring safe and nutritious food for all.
