Background: Many boys and girls in developing countries transition to adolescence undernourished,
making them more vulnerable to disease and mortality. Growth during adolescence is faster than any
other period of life leading to increased requirements for both macro- and micronutrient. High
vulnerability to undernutrition has been expressed more on adolescent girls despite similar stage of
growth for both males and females. This necessitates more information on gender influence on
undernutrition and dietary practices especially in resource poor environments with rich cultural practices
such as pastoral Samburu community in Kenya.