Of Kenya’s Eaters and Eatists: Hunger as a Development and Social Justice Challenge
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Date
2014
Authors
Ombaka, D. M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
American Research Institute for Policy Development
Abstract
In the year 2010 Kenya promulgated a new constitution that among other things
guarantees the right of all persons to food. In spite of thisprivision nearly 10 million
Kenyans today continue to suffer from chronic food poverty. Although there are
many reasons for this, one of the most obvious ones is the high level of corruption
in Kenya society that diverts public resources into private consumption and that to a
very large extent subverts public policy. The fact that many Kenyans are starving
cannot be wished away and it is an issue that must be addressed not only as the
constitutional right that it is but also as a moral duty of social justice. The nearly
one-third of Kenyans who are starving are an obstacle to national development and
their presence clearly demonstrates the lack of equity in Kenyan society. It is no
longer a matter of political choice but a political imperative to put an end to hunger
in Kenya. The cry from millions for food brought us together from many faiths.
God – Reality itself – calls us to respond to the cry for food. And we hear it as a cry
not only for aid but for justice. The spirit of one of the prayers held in our meeting
sums up not only our hope but our resolve: “Give bread to those who have hunger,
and to those who have bread, give a hunger for justice”. Statement issued by the
Conference of Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Christians on Food and
Energy in Bellagio, Italy (1975)
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Citation
Journal of Social Welfare and Human Rights March 2014, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 107-129 ISSN: 2333-5920 (Print), 2333-5939 (Online)