Narok County Steps Up Efforts to Strengthen Food and Nutrition Security Amid Push for Sustainable Agriculture

Narok County is taking center stage in Kenya’s efforts to strengthen food and nutrition security as new community-based initiatives and global shifts in agricultural priorities drive momentum toward more sustainable and inclusive food systems. Findings from the Food Flow Landscape Assessment conducted across Kenya, Tanzania, and Somalia have provided critical insights into how food moves from production to consumption and how inefficiencies in the system affect vulnerable populations. These findings have guided targeted interventions aimed at addressing immediate nutritional needs while laying the groundwork for long-term reforms that make food systems more resilient.

In Kenya, an estimated 32.9 percent of children under five are stunted, while wasting rates reach up to 14 percent in some regions. In Narok County, these figures mirror the reality faced by many rural households. Despite being one of Kenya’s leading producers of maize, wheat, and livestock, Narok’s heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture makes it highly vulnerable to droughts, erratic rainfall, and soil degradation. Limited access to agricultural extension services, poor market linkages, and post-harvest losses continue to undermine household food security and nutrition.

Community-driven initiatives in Narok are beginning to show tangible results. Through projects like **Action Africa Health’s Enkima Project, which has distributed more than 24,000 clean cooking stoves and launched a 40-year carbon credit program, households are becoming healthier and more sustainable. The project not only reduces harmful emissions and deforestation but also eases the burden on women and children who spend long hours collecting firewood. Project lead Githaiga Kamau noted that the initiative is “not just cutting emissions, it’s supporting healthier, more sustainable households.”

However, experts emphasize that while such community projects mark important progress, lasting change depends on stronger, well-aligned policies. According to Juma Mohammed of the Intersectoral Forum on Agrobiodiversity and Agroecology (ISFAA), Narok must develop county-specific solutions that connect seamlessly with national frameworks to ensure coherence, prevent duplication and strengthen governance in food and nutrition security efforts.

Across Kenya, agricultural experts and policymakers agree that the food system still faces deep-rooted structural challenges. For decades, agricultural policies emphasized productivity and commercialization, often overlooking the environmental and social dimensions of sustainability. By the early 2000s, the limitations of this model became clear, as the overuse of chemical fertilizers, monocropping, and land degradation led to environmental decline and increased vulnerability to climate shocks.

This realization sparked a global and national shift toward sustainable agriculture and agroecology (AE), an approach that merges ecological science with traditional farming knowledge to create resilient, low-input, and biodiversity-rich food systems. AE promotes organic fertilizers, crop diversification, integrated pest management, and the conservation of indigenous seed varieties. It not only supports environmental sustainability but also enhances nutrition and food sovereignty.

Momentum for agroecology grew significantly after 2018, gaining further recognition during the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, which urged countries to realign agricultural practices with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet despite these strides, Kenya still lacks a comprehensive national policy to guide and coordinate AE initiatives. Implementation remains fragmented, depending largely on donor support and isolated county efforts.

Some counties, however, are leading the way. Murang’a County, for example, has developed and is implementing the Murang’a County Agroecology Development Policy (2022–2032) and the Murang’a County Agroecology Development Act (2022) (Mbenya, Personal Communication, July 10, 2023). These frameworks provide a roadmap for transitioning from conventional to agroecological systems, focusing on farmer training, sustainable land management, and value chain development. Murang’a’s success illustrates that well-crafted county policies can fill national gaps and drive localized transformation.

Experts suggest that Narok can draw valuable lessons from this model. Developing its own County Agroecology Policy could help align local programs such as the Enkima Project with broader national food security and environmental goals. This would strengthen collaboration, attract investment, and create a unified approach to sustainable development. To achieve this, Narok will need to build institutional capacity, harmonize policies across sectors, and foster partnerships between government, civil society, and the private sector.

Advocates also highlight the need to promote agrobiodiversity, which involves cultivating indigenous crops and livestock adapted to local conditions. This approach enhances resilience, improves nutrition, and protects local ecosystems. Both national and county governments are being urged to create favorable environments for AE adoption through supportive financing, training, and incentives for farmers. Development partners, including funding organizations, have a crucial role in advocating for AE policy formulation and ensuring sufficient financial support for its implementation (AFSIA, 2021).

For Narok, integrating agroecological principles could be transformative. The county’s diverse ecosystems, from fertile highlands to expansive rangelands provide an ideal foundation for sustainable and nutrition-sensitive agriculture. County leaders are calling for strategic coordination and investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, such as small-scale irrigation systems, rainwater harvesting, and post-harvest storage facilities. Promoting school feeding programs that source from local farmers and reviving indigenous foods are also part of the emerging agenda to improve nutrition and strengthen local economies.

As Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security is commemorated across the continent, Narok’s story highlights both progress and opportunity. From the clean cooking initiatives of the Enkima Project to the growing embrace of agroecology, the county demonstrates how community action, innovation and sound policy can work together to secure a sustainable future.