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May 22, 2026
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Story
Kenya advances national action to accelerate anaemia reduction
The Government of Kenya, in partnership with Nutrition International, convened a two-day national consultation on September 8 and 9 to advance the development of a National Anaemia Action Plan aimed at accelerating progress against one of the country’s persistent public health challenges.
Posted on October 2, 2026
Globally, progress on anaemia reduction remains far off track, with no country currently on track to achieve the World Health Assembly target of reducing anaemia among women of reproductive age by 50% by 2030. Accelerating progress will require coordinated, evidence-based, context-specific approaches that address local causes of anaemia within different populations. Nutrition International is working with the Ministry of Health, Kenya, to develop the National Anaemia Action Plan, providing technical expertise and an evidence-informed methodology to help identify and prioritize the key drivers of anaemia across the life course.
The consultation builds on Kenya’s broader commitment to addressing malnutrition through coordinated action across sectors. The Kenya Nutrition Action Plan 2023-2027 recognizes that improving nutrition outcomes requires collaboration extending beyond the health sector and aligns nutrition action with the country’s broader health and development priorities.
“Anaemia remains one of our major public health challenges particularly among women, children and adolescents in Kenya. These figures have implications well beyond nutrition and it may affect maternal and child health, development, learning productivity and ultimately human capital.
—Dr.J.Gondi, Director of Primary Healthcare, Ministry of Health, Kenya
“Nutrition International’s capacity in evidence-informed multisectoral planning positions Kenya’s anaemia action plan to move from analysis to implementation,” said Martha Nyagaya, Country Director for Kenya, Nutrition International. “We bring technical expertise in epidemiology, costing, and coordination — but we are equally committed to ensuring government leadership, sectoral ownership, and integration into existing systems. The roadmap we’re developing with Kenya will be realistic, equitable, and actionable.”
The National Consultation: Accelerating Progress towards Anemia Reduction in Kenya brought together stakeholders from across health, agriculture, education, water, sanitation and hygiene, social protection, as well as experts in malaria, inherited red blood cell disorders, obstetric conditions and micronutrient deficiencies, to review evidence on the causes and drivers of anaemia in Kenya and identify priority actions for an effective national response.
The landscape analysis found that in Kenya, anaemia is highest among children under five, with a re-analysis of 2020 national survey data estimating prevalence at 54% among children aged 6-59 months and 67% among those aged 6 to 23 months. Anaemia has also increased among children since 2015 and continues to rise among women of reproductive age, particularly non-pregnant women. While iron deficiency appears to be a leading contributor, the analysis found that the drivers of anaemia vary across the country, reinforcing the need for context informed responses.
“Nutrition International brings technical expertise in epidemiology, costing, and coordination — but we are equally committed to ensuring government leadership, sectoral ownership, and integration into existing systems.
—Martha Nyagaya, Country Director for Kenya, Nutrition International
This was echoed by Dr. J.Gondi, Director of Primary Healthcare, Ministry of Health, Kenya, who remarked in his inaugural speech: “Anaemia remains one of our major public health challenges particularly among women, children and adolescents in Kenya. These figures have implications well beyond nutrition and it may affect maternal and child health, development, learning productivity and ultimately human capital. We must therefore not view anaemia from simply a health system issue to an issue that affects the global.”
Over the two days, participants gained understanding of Nutrition International’s rigorous methodology for the Anaemia Action Plan and reviewed the landscape analysis findings against sectoral data, programmatic experience, and ground realities. They also identified research gaps where additional evidence will be needed to strengthen future decision-making.
The outcomes of the consultation will directly inform the next stage: development of Kenya’s National Anaemia Action Plan. By anchoring the costing process in evidence that has been endorsed by key partners, Kenya ensures the action plan translates evidence into a coordinated, prioritised and resources set of strategies to accelerate anaemic reduction. The government has committed to leading this process, with Nutrition International providing technical support to ensure interventions are sequenced realistically and the action plan is effective and sustainable.
Learn more about Nutrition International’s work in Kenya.
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