Experts Urge Digital Solutions to Tackle Kenya’s Growing Nutrition Crisis
Dr. Christine Chege, Senior Scientist at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.
As Kenya grapples with a worsening nutrition crisis marked by both undernutrition and rising diet-related diseases, experts are calling for the strategic use of digital technologies to improve access to affordable, nutritious foods.
Recent data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that nearly one in five children under the age of five is stunted. At the same time, cases of overweight, obesity, and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension are increasing rapidly, particularly in urban areas.
Poor dietary diversity, limited access to healthy foods, and high food prices continue to undermine nutrition outcomes for millions of households.
Experts argue that digital innovations—ranging from mobile-based marketing platforms and digital finance to traceability tools—could play a critical role in improving the availability, affordability, and accessibility of nutritious foods.
Scientists, digital technology experts, policymakers, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) recently met in Nairobi to explore how digital solutions can strengthen food systems and promote healthier diets across the country.
The discussions were informed by research conducted by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT under the CGIAR Better Diets and Nutrition (BDN) Science Program. The study, titled “Use of Digital Tools by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) for Nutritious Food Access in Kenya,” found that while Kenya hosts about 23 per cent of Africa’s agri-tech start-ups, scaling up digital solutions remains a major challenge.
The research examined how MSMEs working with nutritious foods adopt and use digital tools to improve market efficiency, reduce transaction costs, support financing, and enhance access to healthy foods.
Dr. Christine Chege, a senior scientist at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, identified several barriers to adoption, including limited awareness, high costs, and infrastructure gaps such as unreliable internet, irregular electricity supply, and poor connectivity—especially in rural areas.
She also highlighted user-related challenges such as low digital literacy, age-related barriers that affect older users, and limited capital among young entrepreneurs. Gender disparities further limit access, with many women lacking smartphones, time, or independent access to digital devices.
High costs of devices, data bundles, subscriptions, and system maintenance also remain prohibitive.
Despite these challenges, Chege noted that accessible and affordable digital tools could significantly improve real-time coordination between farmers, suppliers, and consumers. This would help reduce food losses by enabling pre-harvest planning and minimizing storage time for perishable products such as fruits, vegetables, and dairy.
Small-scale traders are already using digital platforms to market products and communicate with suppliers and customers. Mildred Malwa, chairperson of the Kibra Business Association, said traders rely on mobile phones for communication and payments through M-Pesa and banking platforms, as well as for savings and group contributions.
She added that social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook have made it easier to share product images, receive orders, and reach customers, urging innovators to design affordable and user-friendly technologies that cater to all demographics.
Meanwhile, innovators are developing digital solutions to improve farmer profitability and enable cashless trade. Edwin Ogello, product manager for Digifarm at Safaricom PLC, said traceability tools are being explored to help traders identify what farmers are growing and link supply directly to market demand.
Such tools, he explained, would allow traders to trace crops—such as potatoes—from farmers in regions like Nyandarua and transact directly, while accessing accurate pricing and farmer data.
Patrick Muiruri, Nairobi City County’s deputy director of food systems, said digital transformation, combined with supportive policies and collaboration across sectors, could significantly improve nutrition outcomes.
He noted that the county’s Food Security Bill is undergoing its second round of public participation and aims to address food production, distribution, utilization, and affordability.
While no single digital tool can serve the entire value chain, Muiruri emphasized the importance of tailored solutions for farmers, transporters, traders, processors, and consumers.
Experts believe that greater digitization of the agri-food system could reduce food losses, improve access to nutritious foods, and ultimately support healthier diets. The push comes as Kenya—and much of Sub-Saharan Africa—experiences rapid digital growth alongside a sharp rise in diet-related non-communicable diseases.