On 28th February 2025, KEPSA Foundation hosted the Better Business Practice for Children (BBPC) Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) training forum in Nairobi. Thirty-five (35) employees from various companies participated in the forum that aimed at increasing knowledge on MIYCN and positive parenting. The forum also provided a platform for sharing insights and best practices related to children’s welfare and the empowerment of mothers in the workforce.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Gloria Ndekei, Executive Director of KEPSA Foundation, provided an overview of the Better Business Practices for Children (BBPC) initiative, highlighting the successes of its previous phases. She underscored the importance of young parents adopting positive nurturing and care practices for infants and young children, emphasizing that this is key to shaping a productive and innovative future workforce. She added that this approach would create a win-win situation, benefiting children, women, employers, and the economy as a whole by fostering healthier families, a more productive workforce, and a supportive business environment. To support this goal, she stressed the need for conducive policies, infrastructure, and workplace practices that enable women to balance their productive and reproductive roles effectively.
Within the family setting, she highlighted the crucial role of mainstreaming training on optimal nutrition and healthy diets for women, recognizing them as key decision-makers in family nutrition. She emphasized the need to reach women in both the formal and informal sectors to promote better dietary practices. Additionally, she shared that KEPSA Foundation is developing a hybrid chama agenda aimed at integrating Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) topics into women’s group discussions, providing guidance on incorporating key topics into their conversations. She therefore urged the participants to champion BBPC both in their workplaces and homes.
Ms. Purity Kibe, a representative from the Ministry of Health’s Division of Nutrition and Dietetics, presented the national policy landscape on Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) and workplace support for breastfeeding. She emphasized that every child’s right to proper nutrition is enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya. She pointed out that a key challenge in ensuring proper child nutrition is that the critical period for exclusive breastfeeding often coincides with a mother’s return to work. As a result, many infants are introduced to other foods earlier than the World Health Organization’s recommended six months of exclusive breastfeeding.
Ms. Kibe urged the private sector to comply with existing legislation that supports workplace breastfeeding, including the Employment Act (2007), the Breast Milk Substitutes (Regulations and Control) Act (2012), and the Health Act (2017). She noted that these laws have been operationalized through various guidelines and implementation frameworks, ensuring a supportive environment for breastfeeding mothers in the workplace.
Ms. Maryline Obega, while representing UNICEF, discussed the broader impact of optimal MIYCN practices on employers, employees, and children. She stressed that poor nutrition in children can lead to stunted growth and low immune systems, which eventually affect the employee’s health, causing absenteeism and a financial burden on employers. As a way forward, she advocated for workplace policies that support mothers and children, encouraging businesses to adopt programs that ensure better health outcomes for their employees and their families.
Ms. Sophie Onyango, a program manager at Safaricom Foundation, shared her experience as a BBPC Champion during the later phases of the initiative. She played a key role in mobilizing the hospitality sector to adopt Better Business Practices for Children (BBPC), advocating for workplace policies that support the well-being of children and working parents.
As part of sharing organizational best practices, Ms. Onyango highlighted Safaricom PLC’s commitment to employee welfare, particularly for working mothers. She noted that the company offers four months of maternity leave, flexible working hours for up to six months, and allows mothers to bring their children to work, creating a supportive environment for both employees and their families.
Ms. Onyango highlighted Safaricom Foundation’s Uzazi Salama initiative, which supports vulnerable mothers in the hard to reach areas through healthcare access programs, including medical camps and teleservices. She committed to championing mainstreaming of the BBPC agenda in the Foundation’s initiatives.
Ms. Annette Kimitei, Chair of the KEPSA Security Sector Board and Managing Director of Senaca East Africa, shared best practices that Senaca has adopted to create a conducive work environment for its 6,000 security officers, 24% of whom are women.
She highlighted key initiatives, including the establishment of lactation stations at Senaca offices and advocacy for similar facilities among clients, the promotion of flexible working arrangements and light-duty assignments for pregnant and breastfeeding guards, the design of comfortable maternity wear for female guards, and various employee wellness programs. These efforts have contributed to increased attraction and retention of female guards in the traditionally male-dominated security sector. In addition, these initiatives have earned the company local, regional, and international recognition, enhancing its brand image and ultimately improving its overall performance.
The plenary also explored emerging issues, including the influence of online influencers on nutrition practices and the need to safeguard children in the digital space. Additionally, discussions emphasized the importance of implementing comprehensive workplace policies across government offices, public spaces, and the informal sector.
