"Kenyan kids are not so desperate as to eat dog food," Kenya government spokesman Alfred Mutua told Reuters.
The country'sDaily Nation newspaper reported that the founder of Might Mix company, Christine Drummond, offered the powder to hungry children in drought-stricken western Kenya.
A New Zealand newspaper apparently reported that Drummond wanted to make the donation of 6,000 emergency packs of dog food powder after a friend's daughter visited Kenya.
An article posted on The Press newspaper's web site says the powder makes sustainable meals when mixed with water.
"I made it out of ingredients they (children) are used to eating, so the main bulk product is corn," Drummond was quoted as saying.
A Mighty Mix representative said the food would be represented as a "nutritional supplement" when it was given to a charity in Kenya, reports Reuters.
However, Mutua said the offer was unacceptable.
"The offer was very naive and culturally insulting given the meaning of dogs in our culture," he said. "We understand where she was coming from, and we appreciate, but it is culturally unacceptable."
According to Reuters, one of the worst insults in Africa is being called a dog.
