Laikipia’s feeding project to support learners in 55 schools as hunger bites

A worker carrying a bag of foodstuff meant for Laikipia feeding programme at the National Cereals and Produce Board Nanyuki store /ALICE WAITHERA

The government has launched a school feeding programme in drought-stricken Laikipia county to keep learners in class and cushion them from prolonged dry conditions.

The county has been grappling with recurring drought cycles that have worsened food insecurity and disrupted livelihoods.

The drought has been recurring every three years due to changing climate patterns.

With more than 80 percent of the county’s land classified as arid or semi-arid, communities are heavily dependent on unpredictable rainfall for farming and livestock keeping.

Prolonged dry spells have disrupted education, with hunger forcing some learners to miss school or struggle to concentrate. Food insecurity drives absenteeism, truancy and poor academic performance.

Laikipia county commissioner Duncan Muyesu said the feeding programme targets 55 primary and day secondary schools, where food supplies including maize, beans, rice and fortified porridge flour are being distributed to support thousands of learners.

“This initiative is aimed at ensuring that education continues uninterrupted despite the effects of drought that have strained many households,” he said.

The commissioner said that the state has partnered with development partners to ensure that every child is in school, well fed and healthy to enable them to compete academically with learners from other parts of the country.

 “We don’t want children to attend school simply because the government has said so. No. We want learning to be meaningful and to make a real difference in their lives. This initiative has existed for some time and is not coming to an end.”

Some of the partners include Segera Mission, a Christian outreach programme in the county, and the Anglican Church of Kenya,among others.

He also dismissed earlier reports in the media indicating that some schools were facing closure due to hunger, saying the feeding programme has sustained learners.

Laikipia East subcounty education director Tume Harake lauded the initiative, saying the feeding programme plays a key role in ensuring that learners stay in school, particularly during periods of drought when many families struggle to provide meals.

“We are very grateful for the support. It helps with the 100 percent transition policy but it’s not enough. We have so many of our schools that need this food. If more can be provided, it will support learners even better.”

National Drought Management Authority says that more than 183,000 residents in Laikipia faced severe food shortages during prolonged dry seasons in 2022.

Laikipia North and Laikipia East subcounties are hardest hit areas as many households rely on livestock keeping and small-scale farming, both of which are devastated by lack of rainfall.

Segera Schools feeding programme director Koome Kiragu added that learners have been supplied with food and that learning facilities have managed to continue their operations through the programme.

“Our schools are open and children are in school, and continuing with their learning. We thank the donors who have supported us during this difficult drought period”.

The stakeholders said the feeding programme is critical in helping children remain in school, improving concentration in class and protecting learners from hunger pangs as climate change ravages the country.