NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenyan government has expanded its Nutrition Improvement Through Cash and Health Education (NICHE) programme to six additional counties in a bid to combat malnutrition among children under three and support expectant mothers.
The initiative, a collaboration between the State Departments of Social Protection and Public Health, the British High Commission, UNICEF, and 11 county governments, will now include Isiolo, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Samburu, and Tana River.
It builds upon the initial rollout in Kitui, West Pokot, Turkana, Marsabit, and Kilifi, where it has been credited with improving child health outcomes since 2021.
NICHE is jointly funded by the World Bank, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), and the Government of Kenya, with UNICEF providing technical support.
The programme integrates cash transfers and nutritional education, targeting vulnerable households already enrolled in the “Inua Jamii” and Hunger Safety Net Programme.
Beneficiary households will receive an additional Ksh.500 or Ksh.1,000 per month, depending on the number of children and pregnant or lactating mothers.
During the launch in Isiolo, National Director of Children Services Mary Goretti Mogaka highlighted the initiative’s role in reducing malnutrition and stunting, particularly in poverty-stricken regions.
She emphasized the impact of nutritional counselling, cash assistance, and child protection services in ensuring healthier early childhood development.
Isiolo Deputy Governor Dr. James Lowasa lauded the initiative as a “game changer” for disadvantaged families, stressing that proper nutrition in the first 36 months of life is critical for cognitive and physical development.
He also noted that NICHE incorporates positive parenting strategies to guide caregivers on best practices for raising children.
The British government, a key partner in Kenya’s social protection efforts since 2007, has committed £4 million to NICHE, adding to its previous £116 million investment in the Hunger Safety Net Programme, which supports 133,000 households.
Jennifer Musangi, a community health promoter from Kitui County, where NICHE was piloted, described the programme’s transformative impact on vulnerable families.
She called for further expansion to reach more needy communities across Kenya.
Dr. George Kinyanjui, a Social Policy Specialist at UNICEF Kenya, underscored the importance of investing in early childhood nutrition, emphasizing its long-term benefits for national development.
He urged stakeholders to intensify efforts to combat child malnutrition, noting the significant economic and social returns.
