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A regulatory body has stepped in following backlash over remarks describing ugali as the “most useless meal out there,” which were aired during a recent radio discussion.
In a statement issued on Friday, February 6, 2026, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) said it had received a formal advisory from the Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute (KNDI) raising concerns over the use of unqualified individuals presented as nutrition experts in the media.
“The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has received a formal advisory from the Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute (KNDI) regarding the engagement of unregistered individuals purporting to be experts in nutrition and dietetics,” said MCK.
Media Council Responds to Ugali Nutrition Claims Aired by Media
The advisory specifically referred to comments aired on Spice FM, where a guest introduced as a nutrition expert made claims about ugali that KNDI has since disowned. According to the institute, the individual in question is not registered and therefore not authorised to provide professional nutrition or dietetics advice.
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KNDI, which is mandated by law to regulate standards in nutrition and dietetics, said the remarks were misleading and risked spreading inaccurate health information to the public. As such, investigations into the matter have been launched under the Nutritionists and Dieticians Act.
“Media enterprises are urged to act with due diligence and consult KNDI on expertise qualifications to ensure the public receives accurate, professional health information, as investigations into this specific case have already commenced under the provisions of Cap 253B,” read the statement.
The Media Council has now urged media houses to exercise due diligence when engaging experts, particularly on health-related topics.
Media organisations have been advised to verify the professional credentials of guests through KNDI before airing nutrition and dietetics content.
Council Warns Media of Engaging Unregistered Individuals
The council warned that engaging unregistered individuals on such matters violates the law and could expose both the media outlets and the individuals involved to legal action.
which he described ugali as “the most useless meal out there,” in an interview that has since gone viral.
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Habib suggested that Kenyans should substitute ugali with healthier options, particularly protein from animal sources.
“Number one, healthy, I mean protein from healthy sources, especially animal sources. I’m a big advocate of animal sources because they’re more bioavailable, meaning your body easily absorbs them, whether it’s dairy or eggs. It’s the best source of protein. I know some are allergic to it. Meat, red meat but always make sure that your red meat goes with some kind of fat. Saturated fat is not the culprit here,” said Habib.
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Media Council of Kenya CEO David Omwoyo. PHOTO/MCK