Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o says Kisumu will strengthen child nutrition efforts to further reduce under-five deaths.
A Sh10 million child nutrition programme will support community interventions as Kisumu seeks to lower under-five mortality to 25 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Kisumu’s under-five mortality rate has fallen from 66 to 37 deaths per 1,000 live births over the past decade, Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has said, as the county prepares to strengthen community-based child nutrition services.
Nyong’o credited health workers, parents and development partners with helping reduce child deaths. He called for renewed investment to sustain the progress and move the county towards a target of 25 deaths per 1,000 live births, which he described as the UNICEF benchmark.
The governor spoke during discussions on the Child Nutrition Fund Programme, an initiative supported by UNICEF and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The programme brings together county departments and partner institutions to address nutrition needs during children’s early years.
Sh10 Million for First Year
The programme has secured an initial Sh10 million investment for its first year. Additional funding could become available as the initiative expands, although the initial allocation is the funding outlined for the launch period.
Kisumu’s Department of Public Health and Medical Services will implement the initiative, with a focus on strengthening child nutrition interventions at community level. It will also support health worker training to improve the delivery of nutrition services.
The planned interventions aim to help children receive the care and nourishment they need in their early years. Nyong’o said better nutrition was important not only for children’s health but also for preparing them to learn.
He framed investment in child nutrition as an investment in Kisumu’s future and said the county would continue working with development partners to improve health outcomes for children.
County Departments Join Nutrition Effort
The discussions involved County Executive Committee Members Dr Greg Ganda, responsible for Health; Kenneth Onyango for Agriculture; Beatrice Wadiaga for Gender; and Mwalimu John Awiti for Education.
Their participation brought several county portfolios into the planning discussions alongside the health department, which will lead implementation. The programme’s stated priorities remain community nutrition support and building health workers’ capacity to provide those services.
Representatives from CHAMPS, Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology and Maseno University also took part. The institutions are expected to offer research, innovation and monitoring expertise to help assess the programme’s impact.
Evidence to Guide Further Interventions
Nyong’o said collaboration with the participating institutions would support community-level nutrition efforts while generating evidence to guide future interventions. Monitoring the programme’s impact is expected to form part of that contribution.
The county government said the new programme would complement existing health and nutrition initiatives rather than operate in isolation. Its broader goal is to help reduce preventable child deaths further.
Despite the decline reported over the past decade, the county’s under-five mortality rate remains above its stated target. Nyong’o said partnerships would remain central to efforts to reach 25 deaths per 1,000 live births and reduce the rate further.
