MPs raise alarm as school feeding shortfall threatens vulnerable learners

Basic Education Principal Secretary Prof Julius Bitok appears before the National Assembly Committee on Education, March 17, 2026. /DOUGLAS OKIDDY

Parliament has raised concern over the welfare of millions of vulnerable learners in public primary schools after it emerged that billions of shillings needed to sustain the school feeding programme remain unbudgeted for.

The National Assembly Committee on Education raised the red flag after it emerged that the programme is running on a Sh4.7 billion budget against a requirement of Sh12.7 billion for the 2025-26 financial year.

The concerns arose during a meeting with Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok on Tuesday, where lawmakers warned that the shortfall could undermine access to education, particularly in vulnerable counties.

Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera cautioned that the funding gap could have far-reaching consequences on school attendance and retention.

“The impact of this shortage of funds is severe. We are talking about children who depend on this programme to stay in school. Without adequate funding, we risk increased absenteeism and dropout rates,” Nabwera said.

The school feeding programme currently supports about 2.6 million learners, largely drawn from arid and semi-arid regions.

However, lawmakers questioned the criteria used to identify beneficiaries, with some pushing for expansion beyond traditionally targeted areas.

Kibra MP Peter Orero argued that the programme should be extended to cover learners in urban informal settlements, noting that poverty levels in cities increasingly mirror those in arid regions.

“Children in informal settlements are equally vulnerable. Limiting the programme to arid areas ignores a growing population of food-insecure learners in urban centres,” he said.

Beyond school meals, legislators also raised concern over the state of school infrastructure, decrying what they termed as inequitable distribution of funds despite widespread need across the country.

Under the supplementary budget, Sh361 million has been allocated for primary school infrastructure and Sh510 million for junior secondary schools.

Narok Woman Rep Rebecca Tonkei and Teso South MP Mary Emaase highlighted the dire conditions in many rural schools, where learners continue to study in dilapidated facilities.

“There must be equity in the distribution of infrastructure funds. We still have schools with mud walls, leaking roofs and unsafe classrooms. These learners deserve dignity,” Tonkei said.

Emaase echoed the concerns, urging the ministry to prioritise basic improvements in underserved regions before committing large sums to select institutions.

Luanda MP Dick Maungu warned that persistent funding gaps continue to undermine learning conditions, noting that some schools still operate in temporary structures or lack basic facilities.

“We have learners studying under trees and in unsafe classrooms. The allocations we are seeing cannot meaningfully address these challenges,” he said.

The committee also demanded transparency in the allocation of resources, insisting that the ministry provide a detailed list of beneficiary schools to ensure fairness and accountability.

Tonkei and Emaase further emphasised the need to prioritise rural schools, many of which still operate in mud-walled classrooms with leaking roofs.

“There must be deliberate equity. Rural schools cannot continue to lag behind while resources are concentrated elsewhere,” Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gesiro noted.

In response, PS Bitok defended the allocations, stating that infrastructure investments are guided by ongoing programmes and existing commitments, including donor-supported initiatives such as the Kenya Primary Education Equity in Learning Programme (KPEEL).

Officials also cited competing budgetary pressures, including pending bills amounting to Sh7.7 billion, as a constraint on expanding allocations.

Committee chair Julius Melly directed the ministry to submit a comprehensive breakdown of schools earmarked for infrastructure funding, as well as detailed data on beneficiaries of the feeding programme.