A contextual investigation into the practices of tabletop food vendors and how they deal with urban food waste reduction in Viwandani, Nairobi

Abstract

Increased urbanization rates pose critical challenges in terms of food systems’ sustainability worldwide, including the issue of food loss and urban food waste management. The overall goal of this study is to generate evidence on the urban food environment that can contribute to reducing food loss and waste. In sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Kenya, the burden of malnutrition and food insecurity is exacerbated by food loss along the food supply chain. Nairobi City Council’s 2022 Food System Strategy cites the reduction of food losses as a specific objective in obtaining consistent food security for Nairobi city residents (Nairobi City Council, 2022). The current research conducts a qualitative investigation of the food waste management and food recovery practices of Tabletop food retailers, known locally as Mama Mbogas, in the Viwandani informal settlement area of Nairobi. Through policy & document analysis, site visits and observation and key informant interviews, this study seeks to answer the research question “How do vendors/retailers deal with unsold food and manage vegetable food waste in Viwandani, Nairobi?”. This study will focus specifically on spoiled and unsold vegetables as an element of food waste management. This paper follows an exploratory qualitative analysis paradigm in order to examine food waste and the motivating factors behind its usage in urban settlements. This research demonstrates that tackling food waste in informal settlements is not only crucial for improving local food security but also for contributing to broader efforts to ensure sustainable food systems and alleviate food poverty in an urban area of high vulnerability among residents.