National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has called on the leadership of East Africa to pull together to boost food security and nutrition.
Wetang'ula noted that Eastern Africa grapples with the disproportionate burden of food insecurity and undernourishment, despite hosting less than a quarter of Sub-Saharan Africa's population.
He pointed out that the need for a holistic approach to food security has never been more evident.
Wetang'ula spoke when officially opened the fifth Parliamentary Dialogue and General Assembly meeting of the Eastern Parliamentary Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (EAPA-FSN).
The regional meeting in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is focusing on "Fostering Linkages between Climate Action and Food Systems Transformation".
The conference that brought together delegates and experts from the region is being held at Movenpick Hotel in Nairobi.
Wetang’ula noted that Kenya has recognised the right to food as a fundamental human right under Article 43 (1) of its new constitution.
He stated that the nation's Founding Fathers aimed to eradicate poverty, ignorance, diseases, and hunger but half a century after gaining independence, these challenges persist.
Wetang’ula highlighted the stark contrast within the continent, where extreme poverty and wealth coexist as he called legislators and the FAO to action.
"It is perplexing that many African nations struggle to allocate just 10 per cent of their revenue to food, while substantial budgets are allocated to security installations,” he stated.
To address these issues, the Speaker emphasised the role of legislators in formulating effective policies, legislations, budgeting, promoting value addition, and managing post-harvest processes.
He reminded the audience that food is not limited to staples like rice and maize, but also encompasses root crops.
He stressed that Kenya has abundant resources, including fertile land, a favourable climate, and a skilled workforce that if put to proper use can produce more than enough food.
“Maize and rice are not the only food crops. We have root crops that are substantive types of food. We shouldn’t run helter-skelter to say we have a food crisis and yet we have other types of food,” he said.
He drew a blatant comparison with Ukraine, a smaller nation than Tanzania but a significant global food exporter.
The Speaker passionately stressed that Africa, with its abundant resources, must evolve from a continent in need to a continent of plenty.
He pledged to convey this message to his fellow regional Speakers and legislators, emphasizing the need for influential legislative agendas focused on food, with the ultimate goal of transforming Africa from a continent of pity into one filled with hope and promise.
