Nutrition-related non-communicable disease and sugar-sweetened beverage policies: a landscape analysis in Kenya

Figures & data

Table 1. Key informant interviews by organisation type and sectoral interest

Type of organization	Main sectoral interest	Number of
National Government	Ministry of Health: Nutrition	1
	Ministry of Health: NCDs	1
	Ministry of Health: Regulations and standards	2
Civil society and non-governmental organisations	NCDs	2
	Legal	1
	Finance/economy	1
Academia	Health	1
Industry and industry associations	Industry association	1
Total		10

Table 2. Summary of findings using three categories used in Kingdon’s theory of agenda setting []

Kingdon Category	Facilitators	Barriers
Category 1: The availability of evidence and understanding of NCDs and SSBs as a problem	The NCD epidemic is understood to be a growing problem, driven by the nutrition transition and the increasing adoption of western diets.	Gaps in data relating to SSBs. Cultural acceptability of SSBs is a barrier to fostering political will for actions for SSB taxation.
Category 2: Policies on NR-NCDs and SSBs	Multi-sectoral policies addressing food insecurity and malnutrition present an opportunity to integrate overnutrition and NCDs into existing policy. There is excise tax on soft drinks but not for SSBs, specifically.	Policies and resources currently prioritise treatment and management of NCDs, and less of NCD prevention
Category 3: Stakeholder politics related to NR-NCDs and SSB	Civil society and the Ministry of health actively lobbied Government Treasury in 2016 to adopt SSB taxation	There is no national consensus on dangers posed by SSBs. The SSB industry is organised and actively opposes SSB taxation.

Table 3. Kenyan policy documents related to NR-NCD

POLICY TYPE	DOCUMENT	OBJECTIVE RELEVANT TO NUTRITION AND DIET	ACTORS
Broader policy environment	Kenya Constitution	Highlights the right of Kenyans to adequate food of acceptable quality	Government of Kenya*
	Vision 2030	Highlights the right of Kenyans to adequate food of acceptable quality	Government of Kenya*
	Big 4 Agenda	Represents the Government’s four priority areas (pillars) during the 2017–2022 period. Food and nutrition security is one of the pillars, but focus is on food production and provision. Industrialisation is also one of the priority areas.	Government of Kenya*
	Kenya Heath Policy 2012–2030	Halt and reverse the rising burden of NCDs. To be achieved by addressing major risk factors, including unhealthy diets	Ministry of Health, stakeholders in health, development, and implementing partners
	Health Sector Strategic and Investment Plan 2013–2018	Halt and reverse rising burden of NCDs	Government of Kenya*
	Food and Nutrition Security Policy (FNSP) 2011	Achieve adequate nutrition for optimum health of all Kenyans; increase the quantity and quality of food available, accessible and affordable to all Kenyans	Government of Kenya*
NCD related policies	National Strategy for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2015/20	Objective 3 focuses on promoting healthy lifestyles and implementing interventions to reduce modifiable risk factors for NCDs, and recommends implementation of health-related legislations and regulations on salt, saturated and trans fatty acids and refined sugar content of processed foods, and packaging, labeling and marketing of food products and beverages	Ministry of Health, academic and research institutions, NGOs, civil society, patient support groups
Nutrition and diet related policy documents	National Nutrition Action Plan 2012–2017	Objectives are to improve: (a) prevention, management and control of diet-related NCDs; (b) promote nutrition in schools, public and private institutions; and (c) nutrition knowledge, attitudes and practices among the population	Ministry of Health, Ministries of Agriculture, Education, Gender and Social Services, Planning and National Development, Medical Services, Northern Kenya and Other Arid Lands, academic and research institutions, NGOs, civil society, implementing and development partners
	National Guidelines for Healthy Diets and Physical Activity 2017	Objective 1: Provide principles of healthy diets for the general population; Objective 2: Establish a set of dietary guidelines for the Kenyan population throughout the life cycle; -promotes lower consumption of sweetened food/drinks and higher consumption of fruit/vegetables	Ministry of Health, Division of Non-communicable Diseases and Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries. The committees and technical working groups in the Nutrition and Dietetics Unit (NDU), food and nutrition linkages, implementing, academic and research institutions, implementing partners and development partners
	School Health Policy (2017)	Thematic areas call for provision of diverse, safe and nutritious food of good quality and in adequate quantities in schools, as a key strategy to optimize nutrition of children -calls for restriction of marketing and sale of unhealthy foods in/around schools	Ministry Health/Ministry of Education
	National School Meals and Nutrition Strategy 2017–2022	Strategic Objective 1: To increase awareness and intake of adequate, locally available and nutritious foods among school children and their communities	Ministry of health, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries
Disease specific policy documents	National guidelines for cancer management, 2013	Objective 2: Reduction of risks posed by unhealthy diets and physical inactivity; advocacy for taxation of sugary drinks	Ministry of Health
Fiscal policies	Excise tax, 2015	Excise tax on soft drinks, including those with or without sugar and sweeteners, at 10 shillings per litre	Ministry of Finance
Legislation	Labeling of Prepackaged Foods – Specification [KS EAS 38:2014]	Provides the specifications for labelling of food products, including ingredient lists/nutrition information panels, as details that should be included in food labels. These standards, developed for individual food categories and items, have been adopted and are implemented by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).	Government of Kenya*
	Food, Drugs and Chemical Substances Act Cap 254 (Amendment) 2015	Requires that declaration is on the actual level of trans fatty acids on all foods containing edible fats or oils	Government of Kenya *

*specific contributors to the development of the document are not stated

Data Availability

Data are available on request.