State feeding millions of learners in arid areas, says Education minister

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

The Government is feeding more than 2.5 million learners in Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) counties as well as informal settlements in urban areas, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has said.

He said the learners are spread in ten arid counties, 16 semi-arid counties and informal urban settlements in 10 counties. The CS made the remarks when the Representative and Country Director of World Food Programme (WFP) Kenya, Ms Lauren Landis paid a courtesy call on him in his office at Jogoo House on Tuesday.

Present also during the occasion was the Principal Secretary for Basic Education Dr Belio Kipsang. Mr Machogu said the Government was committed to provide meals to the targeted learners, to sustain their access to education in schools. He thanked WFP, among other development partners and donors for the support they gave the Government in ensuring children in the targeted areas accessed education.

Ms Lauren Landis- assured the CS of WFP's commitment to strengthening the long-standing partnership between UN-WFP-Kenya and the Ministry of Education.