The French government has pledged to support 4,000 pupils in Kisumu County through the Food for Education school feeding programme, in a move aimed at boosting enrolment and retention in public schools.
French Ambassador to Kenya Arnaud Suquet announced during a visit to Kanyamedha primary school, where he underscored his country’s commitment to tackling classroom hunger as part of its broader development agenda in Kenya.
“France has been championing the issue of school feeding across the globe. We know if children don’t get fed at school, they will drop out or fail to thrive in the education system,” the envoy said.
He noted that France has already supported a similar programme in Nairobi, benefiting more than 20,000 pupils, and was now extending it to Kisumu.
“Kisumu was our first choice outside Nairobi. Through our support, 4,000 pupils will benefit from our intervention, 1,300 of them here at Kanyamedha Primary,” he said.
The Ambassador stressed that their approach targets vulnerable families who are unable to pay the subsidised Sh15 daily meal fee, ensuring that no child is left out.
He added that the initiative would soon expand to other counties, including Mombasa, while calling on more partners to join the course to support more needy pupils.
“We will not be here forever. Therefore, the aim is to make this model sustainable by bringing on board local and international partners,” he said.
Food is implementing the partnership for Education, which already provides daily meals to 22,000 pupils across 24 schools in Kisumu.
The organisation uses its innovative Tap to Eat system’s Near Field Communication (NFC) enabled wristband linked to parental contributions to deliver subsidised meals.
The Senior Community Outreach Associate at Food for Education, Imelda Kinyoduri, said the French sponsorship will push Kisumu’s reach further.
“The French Embassy’s support will add 4,000 learners to the programme. These pupils will be fully sponsored, meaning they will not pay anything for the meals,” she said.
Kinyoduri explained that the subsidised meals, mainly rice with beans or green grams, supplemented with vegetables and bananas, have transformed learning outcomes in Kisumu.
“We’ve seen higher enrolment and better retention in schools where the programme runs. Pupils’ nutritional health has improved, and parents appreciate the reduced cost. Beyond that, the programme has created over 4,000 jobs nationwide, mainly for parents who cook and serve meals in schools,” she said.
For Mary Atieno, a mother of three, the French Embassy’s intervention could not have come at a better time.
Her children in Grade Two, Grade Four and Grade Seven at Kanyamedha Primary have often gone to class on empty stomachs.
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A casual labourer in Kisumu’s Obunga slums, Atieno said that the Sh15 daily contribution for each of her children was difficult to sustain.
“Some days I could only afford food for one child, and the others would have to stay hungry in school. It broke my heart as a mother,” she said.
She added that without a proper meal, her children struggled to concentrate in class.
She said, Teachers occasionally sent her reminders about unpaid lunch contributions, a source of shame she carried silently.
“I thank the French Embassy for remembering mothers like me. My three children will now eat at school every day without me worrying about about where to get the money.
It gives me hope that they can study well and have a better future,” she said, her face lighting up with relief.
By Fredrick Odiero
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