The implementation of the school feeding programme in Samburu County has significantly contributed to increased student enrollment and retention, particularly in Early Childhood Development (ECDE) schools.
Stakeholders believe that without the programme, many children would be forced to abandon their education in search of food or to help their families care for livestock, given the prevalent poverty in the region.
During a recent flagging off ceremony, the county government launched the delivery of food to 536 ECDE schools, targeting approximately 38,000 pupils for the second term of the school year.
The food distribution includes 4,000 bags of rice, 700 bags of beans, and 700 jerry cans of cooking oil, all aimed at ensuring students have at least one meal a day while at school.
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County Education CEC, Mark Egelan, emphasized the impact of the feeding programme on education in the region. “Most pastoralists’ children eat only one meal a day, so over the years, the Samburu school feeding programme has played a critical role in increasing ECDE enrollment,” he stated after flagging off the food supplies.
Egelan pointed out that the programme had not only improved retention rates but also helped in the recruitment of new pupils in ECDE schools, especially among pastoralist communities where education had previously not been prioritized. “Without the feeding programme, these children would be out looking for food or attending to livestock, and not in school,” he explained.
The Education CEC also underscored the importance of transparency and accountability in the distribution of the food. “There will be strict supervision of the food distribution in schools. Teachers who misuse or steal food meant for the children are committing theft, and they should be reported to the nearest police station,” he warned.
The county government has partnered with the Kenya Drylands Education Fund (KDEF), which will be responsible for overseeing the distribution and monitoring of the food to ensure it reaches the intended beneficiaries.
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Parents in the region have expressed their appreciation for the initiative, noting that it not only ensures their children remain in school but also gives them the opportunity to focus on other crucial activities, such as raising money for school fees. “This programme has lightened our burden as parents. Now our children can eat at school, and we can think of ways to raise money for their fees and take care of our daily activities,” said one parent.
The Samburu school feeding programme is seen as a vital tool in breaking the cycle of poverty by providing children from disadvantaged backgrounds with the nutrition they need to thrive in school, while also giving their families the chance to focus on other pressing needs.
By Kimutai Langat
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