Governor Irungu Kang’ata addressing residents of Kangema during a past event. /FILEMurang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has announced a countywide plan to support families with young children by distributing wheat flour to parents of learners in public Early Childhood Development Education centres.
In a public notice issued on Tuesday, the governor said the flour will be given out on Wednesday as part of a new digital distribution pilot programme being tested by the county government.
According to the notice, every parent or guardian with a child enrolled in a public ECDE centre will receive one packet of wheat flour.
The distribution will take place at the ECDE centres that the children attend, starting at 3 pm on Wednesday, January 14.
“As part of the ongoing Digital Distribution pilot system, parents of children in public ECDE centres will receive one packet of wheat flour on Wednesday,” the notice said.
The programme is meant to help families prepare chapati at home and ease the cost of food for households with young learners.
At the same time, Kang’ata announced a related food programme in public hospitals.
He said that all patients admitted to Level 4 and Level 5 hospitals in Murang’a will, for the next five months, be served chapati twice a week as part of their meals.
The governor described the initiatives as part of the promises he made to residents during his campaign.
Since taking office in August 2022, Kang’ata has rolled out several programmes targeting ordinary families, with a strong focus on education, health and social support.
Closely linked to the chapati initiative is the county’s Uji Programme, which is run in partnership with Food for Education.
Through this programme, all ECDE learners in Murang’a receive fortified porridge every school day to improve nutrition and encourage regular school attendance.
The county also runs the Inua Masomo Programme, a merit-based bursary scheme that fully pays school fees for the top 10 students in Forms Two, Three and Four in all-day secondary schools across the county.
The aim is to support bright learners and reduce school dropouts. In addition, the county government has invested in building new ECDE centres and renovating old ones to give young children a safer and more comfortable learning environment.
In healthcare, Kang’ata introduced the Kang’ataCare Social Health Scheme, which provides free health insurance to more than 40,000 vulnerable households.
The cover includes inpatient and outpatient services, treatment for chronic illnesses, dental and eye care, as well as emergency services.
The county has also introduced a mobile dialysis truck to bring services closer to patients and a last-expense cover of Sh100,000 for registered beneficiaries.
Another key programme is the Maternal Health Programme, which supports expectant mothers and encourages them to give birth in public health facilities, to reduce deaths among mothers and babies.
Murang’a has also rolled out telemedicine services in 44 health centres, allowing residents to consult specialist doctors remotely.
Health services in the county have further been automated to improve service delivery, drug management and patient records.
Through these programmes, the county government says it is working to improve the daily lives of families, especially women and children, across Murang’a.
"For queries, call 0757-562-988," the notice said.
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