World Food Safety Day / Kenya Marks The Day Through National, Regional And Community Actionv

By Kenya Codex Contact Point, Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)

27 June 2026, Kenya: Kenya joined the global community in commemorating World Food Safety Day (WFSD) 2026 through a series of activities held from 2–5 June 2026 under the global theme “From Burden to Solutions: Safe Food Everywhere.” The celebrations brought together government agencies, industry, academia, development partners, consumer organizations, farmers, and regional stakeholders to strengthen awareness and promote practical food safety solutions.

The celebrations commenced on 2 June 2026 at the National Quality Institute Conference Centre, KEBS, Nairobi. Opening remarks were delivered by Esther Ngari, EBS, Managing Director, KEBS, who highlighted the importance of strong food safety systems in protecting consumers, facilitating trade, and strengthening confidence in food supply chains. Dr Allan Azegele, Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and Director of Veterinary Services, emphasized the critical role of science and international standards in protecting public health and supporting fair practices in food trade.

The opening workshop focused on strengthening food safety within formal markets and supermarket supply chains. Discussions covered implementation of food safety management systems, traceability, accreditation, and regulatory compliance, while panel discussions explored practical approaches to supporting businesses in meeting food safety requirements.

As part of the celebrations, Kenya organized a National Youth Poster Competition aimed at encouraging youth participation in food safety advocacy. Winning entries were recognized during the opening ceremony, highlighting the role of young people in promoting awareness and behavioural change.

On 3 June 2026, Kenya hosted a regional virtual forum focusing on food production and handling practices, with emphasis on mycotoxin management and emerging food safety concerns. Experts shared experiences on preventive approaches across the food chain, including good agricultural practices, post-harvest handling, storage technologies, and innovative solutions.

On 4 June 2026, Kenya participated in the East African Community (EAC) Regional World Food Safety Day Webinar, where participants shared experiences and explored opportunities to strengthen regional cooperation through harmonized standards, improved laboratory capacity, and information sharing.

The celebrations concluded on 5 June 2026 with a public engagement event at City Park Market, Nairobi, featuring a market clean-up exercise, awareness sessions on safe food handling practices, and a tree-planting activity demonstrating the link between environmental sustainability and food safety.

The four-day programme strengthened awareness among consumers, producers, traders, policymakers and youth while enhancing collaboration among public institutions, industry, academia and development partners. The celebrations also reinforced the importance of Codex standards in protecting consumer health and facilitating fair trade.

The four-day programme successfully increased awareness of food safety among consumers, producers, traders, policymakers and young people while strengthening collaboration among public institutions, industry, academia, development partners, and consumer organizations. The celebrations also enhanced the visibility of Codex standards and reinforced their importance in protecting consumer health and facilitating fair trade both nationally and regionally.

Kenya remains committed to strengthening food safety systems through science-based approaches, multi-stakeholder partnerships, and promotion of Codex standards to support safer food, improved public health, and sustainable trade.

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