ECDE learners in Murang’a County have a reason to smile after the county government kicked off a school feeding programme targeting 55 schools.
The county boss Irungu Kanga’ta, while launching the programme, revealed that parents will only need to contribute Ksh20 per plate for a child as they are partnering with Food 4 Education Organisation in a bid to provide subsidised food to vulnerable children in public primary schools to improve their lives and performance.
“This is a voluntary programme aimed at ensuring pupils stay in school and get a well-balanced lunch. It also creates jobs and a market for local farmers,” he said.
The governor said the programme dubbed Uji Programme was as a result of a plea from parents who wished it to be implemented in all ECDE centres replicated in primary schools, and it is set to benefit over 42,000 learners.
Kanga’ta said the pilot programme will run for two years after which it will be rolled out to all public primary schools if successful.
“If it experiences hitches, then we will have the chance to improve on it and make it better. It will be hinged on the infrastructure that is already in place for the Uji programme that already has 55 kitchen centres,” he said.
He further said under the school feeding programme, learners will be fitted with digital wristbands that will be embedded with technology that will help parents load money on it through M-pesa.
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By Vostine Ratemo