Is Breakfast Dying in Kenya?

For some Kenyans, breakfast used to be a non-negotiable and their days started with some tea or coffee and a plate of mandazi, bread or cassava. But lately, there’s a shift where many people are increasingly skipping breakfast altogether. 

Dennis Kibet admits he used to eat breakfast every day, but that habit has changed over the last two years.

For Kibet, his move was informed by his eating habits and fitness lifestyle. He prefers having his first meal at noon, a heavy, balanced lunch, followed by something light before dinner to keep his body fat low.

“Most of the time, I don’t take breakfast, but there are exceptions on some days. This is something that I've been doing for the last 2 years. Before that, I used to have breakfast every day,” he told Money254.co.ke.

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On his general observations of his social groups, he believes lifestyle trends and economic pressures have contributed to the decline in breakfast consumption. 

 There’s also the economic aspect; some people find it expensive to eat breakfast daily, so they skip it and just focus on lunch and dinner. With the whole fitness era and trends like intermittent fasting and OMAD [one meal a day], breakfast is taking a backseat. Eventually, other meals might be affected too,” he adds.

The economic pressures were also highlighted by Roseland Andisi, a tech professional based in Nairobi, who believes that the cost of basic breakfast items has shot up. She also believes that new lifestyle adoptions, such as brunch (combining breakfast and lunch), are contributing to the decline of breakfast.

“I still take breakfast, I think it's slowly dying because emphasis is more on lunch/dinner. I think even the popularity ya brunch has contributed to a decline in breakfast, as people focus more on midday kind of meals,” she added.

Meanwhile, for Moses Juma, breakfast remains an important meal for the day as an employee in Nairobi.

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“I do believe breakfast remains an important meal today. The energy and warmth brought about by this meal help me push through the first half of the day and be productive.” Juma stated.

The contrasting habits among the interviews highlight how lifestyle, economic factors, and personal priorities influence breakfast consumption today.

 For some, skipping breakfast is a choice guided by fitness or intermittent fasting trends. For others, time and convenience dictate whether the first meal happens at all.

Money254.co.ke also spoke to a nutritionist, Maureen Koech, to get he perspective on the importance of breakfast to an individual’s health.

According to Koech, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, which should be heavy, given that the body needs energy for activities during the day.

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“Breakfast is the most important meal among the three we have. It breaks the fast and equips one with energy for a large part of the day. It should be well diversified and heavy,” she advises.

While there’s no strict rule on the exact time to eat breakfast, Maureen emphasises the morning hours as the ideal window for this essential meal.

Her advice resonates with those who still make time for breakfast. Whether it’s a quick cup of tea and chapati or a more substantial meal, starting the day with the right nutrients can set the tone for productivity, mood, and energy levels.

A standard balanced breakfast should combine carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats.