The government has set aside Sh2.7 billion for feeding learners in schools in 26 dry counties, commonly known as arid and semi-arid lands (Asals).
It is a collaboration with other organisations including Unicef to steer the programme that seeks to keep learners in school.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu when receiving Unicef Country Representative in Kenya Shaheen Nilofer in his office said the initiative will enhance enrolment, retention, and learning outcomes in drought-hit areas.
Mr Machogu said his ministry was working with development partners to boost the government food stocks under the plan.
The CS noted that the programme will ensure teacher capacity development to ensure the Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC), which is been rolled out, runs well.
He said the ministry will continue providing water, sanitation, and hygiene, and provide free sanitary pads to school-going girls.
The Unicef official lauded the new reforms in the sector, asking the government to send more teachers to the Asals that perennially struggle with fewer tutors to their harsh terrains.
“You cannot talk about learning outcomes without qualified teachers,” she said.
University Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala told the UN agency that the government would support CBC reforms by reskilling teachers.
Kenya’s school feeding programme took off a few years after the country’s Independence and has consumed billions of shillings in budget since 1966 while benefitting from the partnership of UN agencies such as World Food Programme and Unicef.
Around 1979, the government introduced the school milk programme – commonly known as maziwa ya Nyayo – that not only attracted thousands of learners to school but also retained them.
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