President Uhuru Kenyatta has instructed school management boards and head teachers of public schools in arid and semi-arid counties to cease sending students home for school fees.
Speaking on Tuesday in Garissa County, the President said the government will distribute relief food to schools to cushion them from drought.
Uhuru further said the government has taken the urgent measure in order to ensure learning is not affected by the drought situation.
“As national government, we are taking this issue to parliament requesting them to realign the budget and allocate funds to purchase food for Kenyans affected by drought,” said the president.
He noted that no meaningful development could be realised if citizens were dying from hunger, adding that the government will ensure food stocks are not depleted.
According to recent government statistics, about 23 counties have been affected by drought and famine.