There was excitement at Kebirigo High School on Wednesday as Nyamira County Governor Amos Nyaribo launched an indigenous vegetables feeding programme targeting 15 secondary schools across the county.
The programme aims to improve learners’ nutrition while promoting the production and consumption of traditional vegetables such as managu, terere, saget, and kunde.
Governor Nyaribo said the initiative would help address malnutrition among students and reduce the cost of feeding in schools by encouraging institutions to grow and use locally available vegetables.
Speaking during the launch, the Governor noted that many schools rely heavily on commercial vegetables that are often expensive and unaffordable for parents.
He added that indigenous vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals, and their inclusion in school meals would improve learners’ health and academic performance.
Governor Nyaribo said the programme was initiated in partnership with the Kenya National Museum as part of efforts to instill cultural values among the youth, including cookery and preservation of indigenous food practices.
“These vegetables are part of our heritage and are better suited to our climate. If we grow and eat them in our schools, we improve health, save money, and keep our culture alive,” he said.
Bonyamatuta Ward MCA Julius May, who also attended the event, said the programme would create a ready market for local farmers and improve their incomes.
He urged farmers to increase production to ensure the 15 identified schools receive a constant supply throughout the term.
May added that boda boda operators would also benefit from the initiative through transportation of vegetables from farms to schools.
The Chief Principal of Kebirigo National School, Clement Nyang’acha, who spoke on behalf of fellow principals, said the programme would ease pressure on parents while helping schools provide balanced meals for learners.
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He noted that the county government’s plan to supply schools with seeds, training, and technical support would help institutions establish kitchen gardens and sustain vegetable production.
The launch at Kebirigo High School marked the beginning of a wider rollout that will see the remaining 14 selected schools implement the programme in the coming weeks.
By Enock Okong’o
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