Food Security and Access to Food: The Viability of a Rights-Based Approach to Food Sovereignty in Kenya

Abstract

Food is fundamental to the well-being of each human person, the cohesion of the family unit and the achievement of sustainable peace and development. Improving household and national food security is, therefore, key in realising the full potential of each human person, achieving sustainable human development as well as ensuring overall peace and security. Despite this importance of food to the overall human well-being, opinions at the national and international levels differ on the best way of achieving food security and realising the right to food. The prevailing question that should be asked is: is the food security strategy as elaborated by modernist strategists and policy makers sufficient, or even relevant, to the achievement of food security and the reduction of chronic malnutrition in Kenya? Has it worked? How effective has it been? This paper explores the viability of a rights-based approach to food sovereignty with the context of the food sovereignity movement and how this approach may improve the food security situation in Kenya.