Pupils in a school in Makueni County serve food which is provided through a government feeding programme. [Photo/ nation.co.ke]
The government has launched a school feeding programme in Kilifi to ensure candidates are not affected by the drought being witnessed in the county as they prepare to sit for their national exams.Speaking during the launch of the programme at Dida Primary School on Monday, Water and Irrigation Principal Secretary Zainab Hussein said the government is determined to address the food shortage in the country.Zainab said the national government has launched the hunger mitigation programme in over 17 counties so as to curb the biting famine in the country. The PS said the programme will target over 41 schools, 26,000 pupils, and 750 homes.“The national government is really concerned by the current hunger situation in Kenya. That’s why the president sent me here to bring foodstuffs. The programme will be launched in 17 counties which are worst hit by the drought. Our aim is to make sure children sure do not miss school,” said Zainab, as quoted by Baraka FM.On her part, the head of emergency response at the Children Welfare Society of Kenya Irene Mureithi said the project involves the distribution of over 200 bags of beans and 978 bags of maize to 41 schools in the county. “Each student in the 41 schools will get maize and beans to take home. We will also give them some clothes and a bar soap each. We will also issue out 13 water tanks to schools and the community. Each tank will hold 10 liters of water. We will also give 100 water troughs for livestock,” said Mureithi, as quoted by the daily.Girls in the targeted schools will also be provided with sanitary towels and education materials.