250 MPs from 61 Countries to Gather in Nairobi to Address Food Security and Malnutrition

A global parliamentary summit on hunger and malnutrition is set to kick off in Nairobi on Monday, hosted by the Parliament of Kenya. The two-day event, which will be officially opened by President William Ruto, aims to provide a high-level platform for parliamentarians to assess progress, examine emerging challenges, and share experiences in advancing the transformation of agrifood systems. The summit will bring together over 250 MPs drawn from 61 countries to examine their role in advancing inclusive policies and reinforcing legal and institutional frameworks.

The lawmakers will consider the implications of recent and ongoing global crises on food security and malnutrition, and identify priority legislative and policy responses to accelerate collective action. They will also engage in structured dialogue with technical and development partners to enhance policy coherence and align support with national priorities. The summit aims to reinforce political commitment and parliamentary leadership, strengthen cooperation among parliamentarians at regional and global levels, and achieve zero hunger.

Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang'ula has urged Kenyan lawmakers to attend and participate in the summit, saying it would offer an opportunity to learn from other legislatures, share Kenya's experiences, and contribute to global efforts to achieve zero hunger. He noted that hosting the international gathering would enable Parliament to share Kenya's experiences with other legislatures while strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and international cooperation.

The summit will provide a platform for parliamentarians and other stakeholders to share experiences and develop stronger legislative and oversight responses to food security and nutrition challenges. Discussions will focus on realising the right to food, promoting access to healthy diets, and advancing efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems. The event will also provide an opportunity for Kenya to showcase its agricultural policies and interventions under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

The BETA plan is premised on five pillars, including Agricultural Transformation, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Economy, Healthcare, Housing and Settlement, and Digital Superhighway and Creative Industry, with agriculture being the core pillar of the plan. The plan has been designed to address the current challenges facing the country's economy, stimulate economic recovery, and bolster resilience. It places special emphasis on priorities that target reduction in the cost of living, creation of jobs, and achievement of more equitable distribution of income.

A total of 20 MPs drawn from Europe and Central Asian countries, 25 MPs from Latin America and the Caribbean countries, and other MPs from African countries are expected to attend the summit. The National Assembly has suspended its Tuesday afternoon sittings as the chambers will be the main venue for the event. The summit offers an opportunity for legislators from across the world to exchange experiences and strengthen their legislative and oversight roles in addressing food insecurity and malnutrition.

The gathering will provide a platform for parliamentarians to examine their role in advancing inclusive policies, reinforcing legal and institutional frameworks, and representing the interests of their constituencies. Every single person who is hungry means everybody else is hungry, and therefore, parliamentarians must eliminate hunger and malnutrition by all means. The speaker pointed out that the meeting would provide an opportunity for legislators from across the world to exchange experiences and strengthen their legislative and oversight roles in addressing food insecurity and malnutrition.

Key points

• The summit aims to reinforce political commitment and parliamentary leadership to achieve zero hunger.
• Over 250 MPs from 61 countries will attend the summit to share experiences and develop stronger legislative and oversight responses to food security and nutrition challenges.
• The event will provide a platform for Kenya to showcase its agricultural policies and interventions under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).