Council of Governors lauds Obama as stunting among children raises concerns

Meru governor Peter Munya [Photo/Mbugua Kibera]

The Council of Governors (CoG) has thanked US President Barack Obama for pledging funds for different economic initiatives.

CoG Chairman Peter Munya said President Obama’s message that all parts of the country must reap the fruits of independence and devolution sent a clear message to Kenyans.

Addressing the Press in Meru town, Munya said unequal distribution of resources is a recipe for disintegration and animosity which must be urgently addressed.

“No part of the country should lag behind in development and President Obama stressed the importance of addressing marginalisation and gender equality.

Devolution must be taken seriously to ensure no part of Kenya feels excluded,” he said.

Thanking Obama’s government for pledging to support women and youth enterprise, the governor said CoG will not relent in pushing for more resources.

“We will persist in asking for all pending monies the Government has retained because counties need them for development projects,” he said.

Meanwhile, children in parts of the county are experiencing stunting on levels above the national average despite the area’s reputation as a food basket with some of the most fertile soils in Kenya.

IMPROPER DIET

The Ministry of Health said it was intriguing that areas in Meru especially Igembe Central and Imenti Central had stunting rates of up to 46 per cent compared to the national average of 26 per cent.

Stunting is described as children who are significantly short for their age due to failure to consume nutritious food and important minerals such as iodine, zinc and iron.

Ms Gladys Mugambi of the Nutrition and Dietetics Unit at the ministry said the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), 2014 and a United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) 2013 report had identified feeding of improper diets as a major cause of children stunting in the area.

“In this region, this could be caused by continuously feeding children a diet of mashed potatoes and green bananas. We are now asking parents to increase the proportion of vegetables and fruits they feed their children,” she said.

GOOD FOOD

Ms Mugambi was speaking at the launch of a food fortification campaign, among maize millers, presided over by governor Peter Munya.

National legislation passed in 2012 requires millers to fortify their products with Vitamin A, iron, iodine and zinc.

According to Ms Mugambi, 50 per cent of maize flour products being sold off the shelf across the country are now fortified but small scale millers are yet to comply.

Munya told residents to ensure that as they plant cash crops, they also plant food that offer their children proper nutrition.