Mandera West MP Adan Yusuf HajiMandera West MP Adan Yusuf Haji has retained the chairmanship of the regional parliamentary body on food security.
This follows his re-election to the position during the meeting held in Uganda.
Haji was elected unopposed to serve for another term as chairman of the East African Parliamentary Alliance on Food Security and Nutrition (EAPAFSN).
Haji, while thanking parliamentarians from member countries, called on the regional governments to support the organisation's agenda of ensuring the region is food secure.
"The organisation has made positive strides, and I call upon the regional governments to put more resources in their budgets to fund food production efforts," he said.
The chairman noted that the Mabuto Declaration that compels governments to ensure 10 per cent of their budget is allocated towards food production.
"I am happy to note that in my country, Kenya, the budget for food production has moved from 1.3 per cent to 6.5 per cent," he said.
He explained that other initiatives unveiled by the government, such as the provision of subsidised fertiliser, have greatly contributed to improvement in food production.
The MP challenged the government to put more emphasis on planting of nutritious, drought-resistant crops, especially in arid areas.
Haji also challenged the Ministry of Agriculture to team up with donors to support the food production initiative.
"I am not happy that ministry officials have not shown keen interest in partnering with willing donors to support food production programmes," he stated.
Haji promised to push for legislation that would support organisations that have interest in supplementing government's programmes geared towards ensuring that Kenya is food secure.
EAPAFSN advocates for policies that reduce food insecurity and malnutrition in the subregion.
The alliance was established in April 2019 by members of parliament from 11 countries.
It comprises MPs from Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania
It's mandate is to promote the right to food, encourage governments to enact and enforce laws on food security and nutrition and urge governments to allocate adequate resources to agricultural development and food security programmes.