Fifty five primary schools in Murang’a have been placed in the feeding programme in a trial.
The programme facilitated by NGO Food for Education has been allowed to operate in primary schools where the Murang’a County Government has established kitchens where porridge for nursery school children is prepared. Launching the programme at Muthiria primary school in Kiharu, Governor Irungu Kang’ata said the programme on a pilot basis in the 55 institutions will be rolled out in all 560 primary schools upon its success.
“Cost of a plate of quality meals is Sh40 where the donor is paying Sh20 and the parents pay the balance,” said the governor. He added that the county government is only paying for the staff in the school who prepare the porridge for the nursery school learners and lunch for the entire school.
” Kitchens used in preparing uji for the 42,000 children in nursery schools have been picked for the pilot programme and many of the parents have embraced it,” said the governor. “At Muthiria primary all the 785 pupils are enrolled in the feeding programme which has contributed to increased enrolment,” added Kang’ata.
The school’s headteacher David Karanja said the feeding programme has led to high enrolment of learners transferring to neighbouring schools. Mugoiri MCA John Kamwaga said the assembly was in support of the interventions undertaken by the county government to improve standards of education.
He said the feeding programme is a noble one as many of the families are in dire need of the assistance.
“Assembly has considered increasing resources in the programme that targets the community directly,” said Kamwaga.