Shocks, socio-economic status, and food security across Kenya: policy implications for achieving the Zero Hunger goal

Mutea, E., Hossain, M. S. , Ahmed, A. and Speranza, C. I. (2022) Shocks, socio-economic status, and food security across Kenya: policy implications for achieving the Zero Hunger goal. Environmental Research Letters, 17(9), 094028. (doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/ac8be8)

Abstract

This study assessed the association between shocks, socio-economic factors, and household food security across Kenya, and provided policy implications for achieving the Zero Hunger goal at national and local levels in Kenya. We analysed the Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey 2015-16 data for 24,000 households by employing regression models. Our multiple findings show that: (1) half of the surveyed population across Kenya were food insecure; (2) large disparities in food security status exist across the country; (3) demographics (e.g. gender, urban areas,), and other socio-economic aspects (e.g. education, income, remittances), positively influence food security; (4) social and economic shocks negatively influence food security, and (5) that food security has no significant relationships with environmental shocks (e.g. floods and drought). In summary, the food security status in Kenya is not satisfactory. Our findings suggest that, in general, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Zero Hunger goal by 2030 will likely remain challenging for Kenya. Ultimately, a redoubling of efforts is required to achieve SDG 10 (reducing inequality) to ensure no one is left behind. Further, the findings could be useful in the formulation and implementation of national and regional policies for achieving the Zero Hunger goal by 2030 in Kenya.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The main author received support from the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists: ESKAS 2017.0930. The authors are also thankful to the Kenya national bureau of statistics for making the data available. MSH acknowledges Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 796994, under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Sohel, Dr MD Sarwar
• Authors: Mutea, E., Hossain, M. S., Ahmed, A., and Speranza, C. I.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social & Environmental Sustainability
• Journal Name: Environmental Research Letters
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• ISSN: 1748-9326
• ISSN (Online): 1748-9326
• Published Online: 23 August 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Environmental Research Letters 17(9): 094028
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License