Kenya Launches Food Policy Coalition to Tackle Rising NCD Burden

By Bruno Aero Family Media Staff Writer Nairobi, March 27, 2026 

A powerful alliance of civil society organizations has come together to confront Kenya’s growing health crisis. Today, the Kenya Legal & Ethical Issues Network on HIV & AIDS (KELIN), International Institute for Legislative Affairs (IILA), African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), and the Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance of Kenya (NCD Alliance Kenya) officially launched the Food Policy Coalition Kenya.

The Coalition aims to strengthen food environment policies through evidence-based advocacy, policy engagement, and public accountability. Its formation comes at a critical time: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease now account for 43% of deaths in Kenya and more than half of hospital admissions, according to the Ministry of Health.

Ultra-processed foods high in sugar, salt, and fats are fueling this alarming trend, reshaping dietary patterns and threatening long-term public health. While Kenya’s adoption of the Nutrient Profile Model in 2025 was a milestone in classifying unhealthy foods, the Coalition insists that stronger measures are urgently needed. These include:

• Restricting marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children

• Establishing a Front-of-Pack Nutrition Warning Labelling framework

• Using fiscal policies to influence healthier consumption

• Improving public food procurement standards

“The foundation is in place; the task ahead is to move these measures forward and ensure they are effectively implemented and enforced,” the Coalition declared.

Calling on the Ministry of Health and Parliament to prioritize food policy reforms, the Coalition emphasized that timely action is essential to protect populations, especially children, from harmful food environments.

As it begins its work, the Food Policy Coalition Kenya envisions a future where healthier food options are accessible to all, policy decisions reflect public health priorities, and the burden of diet-related diseases steadily declines.

Better Food Policies. Healthier Futures.