Kenya will mark this year’s World Food Day in Turbo, Uasin Gishu County on November 8, the event’s National Planning Committee announced.
During a planning meeting held in Eldoret under the chairmanship of a Senior Assistant Director of Agriculture Mr. Joshua Oluyali, stakeholders who will participate in the event were asked to liaise with the Uasin Gishu County Government officials in order to make the event a success.
The UN-designated Day is marked worldwide annually on October 16 to create awareness and lobby action in marshaling resources to fight hunger and promote food and nutrition security.
Kenya’s celebrations have been pushed to a later date due to the repeat presidential elections scheduled for October 17.
The theme of this year’s World Food Day is: Change the Future of Migration – Invest in Food Security & rural development. It is aimed at creating opportunities to stem migration by creating opportunities of food production in rural areas.
Kenya marks the event soon after challenges in the agricultural sector which include insufficient maize supply occasioned by prolonged drought last year and invasion of the Fall Army Worm (FAO) in over 20 counties.
Earlier, the committee had visited the site of the event. The Uasin Gishu County Executive Member of Agriculture Dr. Cyril Cheruiyot said it was a big honour for the county to host this year’s event.
In Kenya, national celebrations of the World Food Day are marked in various counties on rotational basis. Last year, the Day was marked in Kilifi County while in 2015, it was marked in Nyamira.
