| dc.description.abstract | Exceptionally high rates of urbanisation in developing countries have been coupled with lack of
employment and increasing urban poverty and undernutrition. Urban populations are thus utilising a
variety of initiatives to enable them to survive. Street food vending is one such initiative. It is
believed to have a double function in that it addresses the two increasing problems of urban poverty
and undernutrition in developing countries. In Kenya, little information is available about street
fo^d vending. The sector is not officially permitted and vendors are often harassed. This study
describes the scope of street food vending and buying in Nairobi and quality of street foods in terms
of! food group variety and energy and nutrient provision. It also assesses basic food hygiene
knowledge and practice of vendors as well as the extent to which street foods are a source of
livplihood for vending households.
We found that street food vending in Nairobi is wide spread especially among the urban
poor. Its growth reflects trends in economic and urban population growth. Although the sector
offers products from all food groups, most vendors are one-food group sellers with cereals as the
prominent group. In addition, major meal servings especially in working areas are able to provide
mttire than adequate protein and iron, but their ability to provide adequate energy is limited.
Meals are also poor in Vitamin A. However, where there is an income, particularly female
veftdors are able to sell foods of better nutritional quality than their male counterparts.
Knowledge of general aspects of basic hygiene is well established while knowledge of specific
issues is less spread among vendors. Nevertheless, vendors do not translate basic hygiene
knowledge into safe food practices. Majority of vendors earns above the official minimum wage
for Nairobi. For half of the vending households, street food vending is the main income provider.
Subh households are associated with the lowest socio-economic index and vendors as household
he&ds. The vast majority of vending households feeds from the street food pot on a daily basis
and obtains substantial amounts of the daily energy requirement.
Therefore, street food vending (and consumption) is growing with increasing urban
population. The foods, however, need improvement in terms of variety and nutrient
harmonisation. Vendors are not completely ignorant of basic food hygiene practices but
consumers probably do not demand safe food. Poverty and insecurity may also contribute to lack
of Investment of vendors into safe practices while absence of sanitation amenities at the vending
sit^s makes it impossible to practice. Vending of street foods is a livelihood strategy for most
veiiding households, hence banning it would strip them of a means of survival. What is needed is
to (officially recognise the sector, reconstruct and organise it with provision of sanitation
amenities and put in place vendor training and consumer sensitisation programmes to ensure food
safety and nutritional quality. | en |
