MPs propose Sh30 billion feeding programme for public primary school children

Ofafa primary school children are served lunch under school feeding program on Tuesday 17, February, 2015.Old Nairobi estates schools along Jogoo road are experiencing unusual high number of children dropping out of school. PHOTO: JENIPHER WACHIE

Nairobi: A parliamentary committee is considering an amendment to education laws to make sure that the over 8.3 million children in all public primary schools are fed by the Government.

The ambitious plan, to be modelled along the free school-milk programme of the 1990s, will see children in 21,718 public primary schools get all their meals in schools.

The Budget and Appropriation Committee met yesterday at Parliament Buildings to discuss the plan that will cost the taxpayer Sh30 billion to implement, according to the figures from the Parliamentary Budget Office.

The goal, according to the sponsor of the amendment to the Basic Education Act, Irungu Kang'ata, is to make sure that children in public schools, many of them from poor backgrounds, have a chance to pursue their dreams on full stomachs.

Mr Kang'ata pleaded with the committee to approve the amendment, saying the Constitution requires the State to feed its citizens.

"I propose that this amendment is approved to actualise article 43 of the Constitution, which makes it the right of citizens to get food from the State. Of course, we can't feed adults but at least, let us feed our children, because they are the future of this country," he said.

The MP said the food for the primary schools will be sourced from the localities where the schools are, and that will spur the economic development of the areas. He said there was no reason why the bulk of the billions allocated to the education sector have to go to payment of salaries.

"Sh30 billion may look like a lot of money, but it is really nothing if we are nourishing our children to make sure they get a good education," said Kang'ata, adding that he had spoken to Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi who assured him that the amount required for the programme will be at least Sh17 billion.

Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairman Mutava Musyimi (Mbeere South) said the committee also had another proposal for provision of free water to all children in schools and that it will have to weigh whether to give water or food. The proposal for free water was sponsored by Andrew Mwadime (Mwatate).

The plan will see two cooks appointed per primary school. There will also be an additional Sh23 billion to be used in the first year to build kitchens and dining halls in all primary schools countrywide.

"For some of us who come from the arid and semi-arid regions, the school-feeding programme has been going on. It is a permanent request for us to buy food for schools. When children have no food, they cannot even concentrate in class," said Makali Mulu (Kitui Central).

"The socio-economic impact of this will be huge. If the milk programme worked, we should be bold enough to implement this one," said Silverse Anami (Shinyalu).

Patrick Ntutu (Narok West) said while the programme is very popular, the problem was whether the money will be available in the next budget. "The only problem is whether this is something that we can afford," said Ntutu.