Over 20,000 Students Benefit from Child Welfare Free Meal Initiative

Over 20,000 students across Kiambaa, Kiharu, and Mukurweini constituencies are now enjoying free lunches, thanks to the Child Welfare Society of Kenya’s (CWSK) emergency school support program. Sponsored by the State Department for Social Protection, this initiative is transforming the lives of learners who are not part of the government feeding program, particularly during the critical times at the beginning and end of school terms.

The initiative, rolled out in phases, is targeting secondary day schools in high-poverty areas where the need for food assistance is most acute. The program aims to address gaps in the existing feeding schemes, with a focus on schools that have been struggling to provide adequate meals to their students.

School principals have expressed overwhelming support for the program, highlighting its potential to improve student retention and academic performance, especially as national exams approach. The program is seen as a crucial intervention that will help many students focus on their studies without the distraction of hunger.

As outlined in Kenya’s constitution, the CWSK is dedicated to promoting and protecting the basic rights of children under 18 years. The society has been involved in various programs, including adoption, foster care, and family strengthening. The current meal initiative is an extension of these efforts, aiming to mitigate food insecurity—a known factor contributing to absenteeism, low enrollment, and increased dropout rates. These issues are often linked to more severe problems such as child labour, commercial sex exploitation, child trafficking, drug abuse, teenage pregnancies, and forced marriages.

In the third term of this academic year, the support program has already made a significant impact. In Kiharu, Muranga County, 60 schools have benefited, with 14,192 students receiving essential food items such as maize, beans, green grams, cowpeas, rice, and cooking oil. In Kiambaa, Kiambu County, 6,399 students across 13 schools have been served, while Mukurweini and Nyeri counties have seen 4,509 students benefit from similar provisions. The areas selected for this intervention are primarily characterized by high poverty levels and food insecurity.

The meal plan not only supplements government efforts but also reduces the financial burden on parents, who previously faced high lunch levies. Lydia Mwangi, Deputy Principal of St. John Thunguri Secondary School in Nyeri County, notes, “This will ensure the candidates fully focus on their examinations and none goes without food. Without assistance, many would be unable to adequately support their children during the exams which could jeopardize their results.”

Stephen Kiiru, Principal of Karindi Secondary School, echoes this sentiment. He emphasizes how the feeding program has positively affected retention rates, particularly among the 2024 Form Four class. “The feeding program is a relief to struggling parents who will pay Ksh900 per term instead of Ksh4000. Such a program would also give all children an equal opportunity to learn and focus on their examinations,” he said.

In Kiharu, Headteachers have leveraged the feeding programs to keep students in school, particularly as many come from needy families. Charles Gikungu, Principal of St. Paul Gikuu Secondary School, highlights the program’s role in overcoming challenges that previously disrupted learning. “The daily meals are a main solution to various challenges that previously disrupted learning in our day schools,” he asserts.

This comprehensive feeding initiative represents a significant step forward in ensuring that all children have the opportunity to succeed academically without the added burden of food insecurity. As the program continues to roll out, it promises to create a more equitable and supportive learning environment for thousands of Kenyan students.