State working on free milk programme for primary school pupils

By AUGUSTINE ODUOR

Kenya: The Government is planning to roll out milk programme for all primary schools starting next month.

This means some12 million primary school children will be given free milk daily or on specific days of the week once the project is rolled out.

 A concept document seen by The Standard reveals the Ministry of Education is weighing options of implementing the project at an annual budget of up to Sh154 billion.

The document says all three million pre-primary pupils and about nine million children in primary schools stand to benefit from the project once implemented. In its implementation strategy, the ministry is toying with possibility of giving every child a 250ml or 500ml packet of milk.

The document says if all children will get the 250ml packet of milk daily, the Government will spend Sh25 billion per term. This will translate to Sh75 billion per year.  The cost is, however, higher if 500ml packet is to be provided daily. The cost of implementing will be Sh51 billion per term.