When we talk about urbanisation, we often picture high-rises, expressways, fast-paced jobs, and an endless buffet of convenience — including fast food. But what we rarely stop to ask is: at what cost to our health?
As Kenya urbanises rapidly, we’re seeing a simultaneous surge in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) — obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and even certain cancers. And while urbanisation brings many positives, it’s also accelerating poor dietary habits, physical inactivity, and stress — the perfect recipe for poor health.
But what if urbanisation wasn’t the problem, but rather how we’re integrating nutrition into urban life?
🥬 Reintroducing Tradition into Modern Plates
Kenya is blessed with a rich food heritage — from managu, kunde, terere, arrowroots, and cassava to the age-old art of food fermentation and sun-drying. These traditional foods are not only nutrient-dense but also protective against many diet-related NCDs.
Yet in many urban centres, these foods are disappearing from tables — replaced by ultra-processed, salty, sugary, and fatty meals. It’s time we reclaim our cultural identity through food.
Imagine a Nairobi where traditional food joints are marketed with the same energy we give to international chains. Where you can order “Mukimo & Mursik” from an app just as easily as chips and chicken. Let’s make indigenous food trendy and accessible.
🌱 Nutrition Meets Urban Agriculture & Policy
We can’t talk about food access without talking about agriculture.
Urbanisation has pushed farming to the periphery — and with that, the cost of indigenous foods has gone up. We need agricultural subsidies that prioritize traditional crops. Urban gardens, rooftop farming, and vertical agriculture aren’t just ideas — they’re necessities.
Encouraging communities to grow managu instead of ornamental flowers, or supporting households with seedlings and training could turn balconies and backyards into nutrition hubs.
🍽️ Food Safety in a Fast-Food World
Another concern is food safety — especially in informal eat-out joints. It’s easier to grab a quick plate of chips and sausage than to find affordable, safe, and clean indigenous meals in the city.
We must strengthen HACCP regulations (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) in urban eateries to ensure clean handling, storage, and preparation, especially of our nutrient-rich local meals like matumbo, ugali, or kienyeji chicken.
If we want Kenyans to choose healthier, local meals, those meals must be safe, appealing, and accessible.
🏥 Urban Health Systems Must Think Food First
Urban healthcare systems often treat disease, but rarely prioritise nutrition in prevention and management. It’s time we integrated nutrition-sensitive interventions across urban health programs — from antenatal care to chronic disease management clinics.
Local governments should also create urban nutrition strategies — targeting workplaces, schools, informal settlements, and public markets — to help curb the rising triple burden of disease: undernutrition, micronutrient deficiency, and overnutrition.
👀 What Can You Do?
Whether you’re a policymaker, a healthcare provider, or a Nairobi-based foodie — your role in reshaping Kenya’s nutrition future is critical. Urbanisation is here to stay. The question is — will we integrate nutrition into it, or keep treating NCDs after the damage is done?
🎥 Want to dig deeper? I recently did a powerful video on:
👉 “Why We Are Getting More Obese by the Day”
Tap the link to watch: https://youtu.be/k2Z8BdMok2Q?si=FtKRSOgny3JSnMEM
Let’s keep this conversation going — share your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel: Mumina Wellness Solutions, where we talk all things health, nutrition, and wellness from an African perspective.
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