Nairobi: Vihiga county government has signed an MoU with Nutrition International to sustain nutrition gains made over the past five years as the organization transitions into its next grant cycle. The area governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo expressed gratitude to Nutrition International for its ongoing partnership with the county and commended the County Assembly for its support during the initial phase of the partnership.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Ottichilo noted that the engagement has contributed to major policy milestones including the development of the Vihiga County Nutrition Policy, whose implementation framework was underway, and the Vihiga Food and Nutrition Security Bill, 2025, which has been forwarded to the County Assembly for approval.
Nutrition International Kenya Country Director Dr. Martha Nyagaya said the partnership has significantly improved child nutrition in the county, reporting that the percentage of stunting in children under five has decreased from 26 per cent in 2014 to 16.6 per cent, which is below the national average.
Since 2015, the county has partnered with Nutrition International to enhance nutrition systems through capacity building for health workers and community health promoters and the creation of support groups for household nutrition practices.