The Ministry of Health has set up a new committee to deal with the rising rate of illnesses brought about by unhealthy eating habits ( NCDs)
The new committee formed to deal with the unhealthy eating habits in the country is known as the National Food Environment Policies Steering Committee. The launch of the new committee was on February 26, 2026, at a hotel in Nairobi. The chair of the meeting was Dr. Joel Gondi, Director of Primary Health Care, on behalf of Health Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth.
The major issue to be discussed by the new committee formed to deal with unhealthy eating habits in the country is the rising rate of Kenyans falling sick due to unhealthy eating habits.
The major issues to be discussed by the new committee are to steer policy to create a healthy food environment. The major issues to be addressed include the issue of front-of-pack labeling, the issue of unhealthy food promotions to children, and the issue of removing industrially produced trans fats from the market.
Other issues to be addressed include the issue of providing tax incentives to support healthy eating habits, the issue of increasing standards for healthy foods in public sector procurement, and the issue of improving the nutritional value of foods with manufacturers.
In the speech delivered by Dr. Gondi, Dr. Amoth stated that the country is faced with the twin burden, where while the burden of undernutrition is still affecting some populations, obesity-related illnesses, such as diet-related non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, are rising.
According to Dr. Amoth, the unhealthful foods are available in most shops, including street stalls, where they are promoted to the customers, making the foods accessible and affordable.
This has had a negative impact on the healthy choices made by the people of Kenya, leading to the rise of non-communicable diseases.
The formation of the committee is also an indication of the policies already put in place, such as the Kenya Health Policy 2014-2030, the Kenya Nutrition Action Plan, the National NCD Strategic Plan, among others.
Moreover, the formation of the committee is an indication of the recently adopted Kenya Nutrient Profile Model (2025), which provides scientific evidence for decision-making in relation to unhealthful foods.
Moreover, the formation of the committee is an indication of the steps being taken towards the
