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| Students taking lunch at school |
The Child Welfare Society of Kenya (CWSK) under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has expanded its emergency school feeding programme to four counties targeting over 20,000 learners.
24,150 students in 96 public day secondary schools in Murang’a, Baringo and Kiambu counties are beneficiaries of the emergency relief intervention rolled out by the organisation that promotes and protects children’s rights in the country.
The drive complements national and county government efforts to boost attendance and academic performance.
Food insecurity has been blamed for the high number of school dropouts and absenteeism across various counties where a majority of the learners are from low-income households.
Child Welfare has been bridging the gap through the school feeding programmes which is one of its community interventions targeting vulnerable communities where access to food remains a challenge for many households.
Free lunches
12,694 day-scholars from 60 schools in Kiharu constituency, 6,038 in 13 schools within Kiambaa and 5,418 from 23 institutions in Mogotio, Baringo will enjoy free lunches respectively this second term.
Another 1,458 learners with special needs drawn from eight schools in Tharaka Nithi county are also beneficiaries.
Some of the food items distributed include maize, beans, cooking oil and essential items such as sanitary towels, beds, storage boxes, blankets, mattresses, mentorship books and other learning materials.
Tharaka Nithi county Woman Representative, Ms Susan Ngugi who witnessed the flag-off thanked the society for the timely support saying it will go a long way in ensuring the continuity of the students’ education.
She further urged the government to enhance funding for such schools to ensure they are able to adequately take care of the needs of the learners.
Tharaka Nithi County Woman Representative, Susan Ngugi oversees the drive at Ikuu Special School
Local administrators and elected leaders are part of the three-day sustained distribution exercise.
By Margaret Kalekye