Nutrition plays a key role in the growth and development of any economy in the world. Women and children below the ages of five years are the most vulnerable population in regards to malnutrition.

Research has shown the double burden of malnutrition; overweight and underweight is cyclic. This is a great reason why nutrition investment should be scaled up in Kenya and globally at large.

The Global Nutrition Report (GNR, 2015) indicates Kenya's nutrition status improved remarkably. Kenya became the only country in the world to lead in nutrition targets aimed at ensuring mother and child nutrition needs are met. Even so, the work is far from completion. Over half of Kenya's population is living below the poverty line and can only afford one meal a day (if they are lucky) or skip a day or two before they can access another meal.

About 45 per cent of all child deaths globally are linked to malnutrition. Children in sub-Saharan Africa are more than 14 times more likely to die before the age of 5 than children in developed regions. Over 40,000 children in Kenya die every year because they are underweight, are Vitamin A-deficient, or are not exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. Further, the high Child Mortality Rate of 52 per 1,000 is attributed to nutrition related illnesses.

Leading causes of death in children under-5 years are pre-term birth complications. One in every two Kenyan women suffers from iron deficiency, which can lead to giving birth before the required time. Other leading causes include pneumonia, birth asphyxia, diarrhoea and malaria. The Scaling Up Nutrition Kenya reveals that overall productivity of the nation is at risk due to poor nutrition.

For the first time in 14 years, the Tokyo International Conference on African Development-TICAD VI will be hosted in Kenya, with several Heads of States from Africa attending. TICAD VI aims to promote high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and their partners and to mobilise support for African-owned development initiatives. Since the first TICAD in 1993, the summit has been held in Japan every five years.

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In this regard, there is a call to action for the decision makers to institute policies on breastfeeding; such as work place support to create suitable environment for the mothers to breastfeed and express milk for the child. The policy on breastfeeding is to compel all employers to create suitable environment for the exclusive breastfeeding; flexi hours, 6 months leave.

Evidence has shown that investing in six months' exclusive breastfeeding, and breastfeeding up to the first 1,000 days of life (two years) on safe, adequate, appropriate, responsive complementary feeding starting in the sixth month, reduces the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and obesity later in life.

Bearing in mind that communicable diseases hurt the economy by depleting resources including human and resources, investment in breastfeeding and sensitisation on the same, would save the economy a lot of wealth. In this regard, KANCO and partners have organised TICAD VI High Level Nutrition Side Event. The aim is to sensitise African Leaders on the significance of paying attention to nutrition as an investment. Nutrition is a key agenda in Africa/Global economic development because it affects the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Between 2010 and 2030, if nothing is done, Kenya will lose Sh104 billion, approximately $1 billion, due to Iodine Deficiency Disorders. Further, 26 per cent of all Kenyan children less than two years are stunted. In West Pokot alone, 47 per cent of the children are stunted. It is estimated that Kenya lost about Sh95 billion due to stunting in 2010 alone.

When children are stunted, they will never reach their full mental and physical potential even where they survive. As a result, this affects their school performance and ability to become innovative and economically productive later in life.

Prioritising nutrition therefore is not a liability, it is an investment. Our children are our future.