Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos has unveiled the government’s ambitious plan to expand the School Meals Programme (SMP) to provide nutritious meals to 10 million children nationwide, up from the current 2.6 million beneficiaries.
Speaking at the launch of 16 modern NG-CDF-funded classrooms at Mbauro and Mghambonyi Comprehensive Schools in Wundanyi Constituency, Taita Taveta County, Migos reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring no child is left behind in accessing nutritious school meals.
“There are areas in our republic where school children are not benefiting from this programme, despite deserving it. We plan to scale up the initiative to reach 10 million schoolchildren,” said Migos.
He further noted that the Ministry of Education will evaluate the requirements to include schoolchildren from Taita Taveta County in the programme, highlighting the urgent need to combat hunger in the region.
“We will assess what is required to ensure schoolchildren in this area are included. Hunger among schoolchildren in Taita Taveta mirrors challenges faced across other counties,” he added.
Launched in partnership with the World Food Programme, the SMP aims to tackle malnutrition and enhance attendance and academic performance in pre-primary and primary schools nationwide.
Wundanyi MP Danson Mwashako echoed the Cabinet Secretary’s sentiments, urging the government to prioritise Taita Taveta County in the programme’s expansion.
“There is a high probability that many pre-primary and primary pupils in Taita Taveta, particularly in Wundanyi, attend school on empty stomachs. This affects their ability to concentrate and perform well in class,” said Mwashako.
The MP stressed the economic hardships faced by families in the region, calling for affirmative action to include children from remote and marginalised areas in the SMP.
“There are already funds allocated for this programme. What we need now, especially in Wundanyi constituency, is to ensure these schoolchildren are included so they can receive meals at school,” Mwashako emphasised.
Mwashako also highlighted the difficult working conditions faced by teachers in Taita Taveta County, urging the government to designate the region as a hardship area due to its challenging geographical terrain and economic constraints.
“This recognition is vital to address the challenges teachers face while working in remote areas like ours,” he said.
The expanded SMP is expected to reduce hunger, improve school attendance, and uplift educational outcomes across Kenya, particularly in marginalised regions like Taita Taveta.
