US government extends funding for Tusome programme

US Ambassador to Kenya, Kyle McCarter during World Literacy Day celebrations in Kakamega, yesterday. [Nathan Ochunge]

The US Government has extended funding for the Tusome Programme under the Ministry of Education up to 2020

US Ambassador to Kenya, Kyle McCarter, yesterday said they want the government to start funding the program by setting aside a budget every financial year for sustainability purposes.

The US has spent a total of Sh7.61 billion to fund the programme for the last four years. The funding is done through the United States Agency for International Development.

McCarter, who was at Ebuchinga Primary School in Lurambi constituency, Kakamega County, noted that the programme has benefited over 6.5 million pupils and at least 190,000 in Kakamega County.

He said they are aiming to reach at least 7.4 million pupils in Kenya before the end of this year by supplying them with reading materials.

“The programme has been so successful to an extent of being picked by states in Sub-Saharan Africa to go and implement in their countries,” McCarter said.

McCarter said Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia and South Africa have picked the programme, while Nepal has also sent representatives to the country to learn how the programme works.