The enrollment of learners in Turkana has dropped sharply because it's hard to learn on an empty stomach.
The Kenya Nation Union of Teachers Turkana branch has said the drought and hunger ravaging the county has also lowered enrollment, especially when there's no feeding programme .
Knut executive secretary Peter Ewasaid learners in primary schools are starving due to lack of food and it’s now two terms and there is no food.
“The enrollment of learners in Turkana schools has terribly gone down. Who can teach a child who is hungry? Food motivates children to go to school,” he said.
Ewat has urged the Ministry of Education to ensure that enough food is supplied in schools to cushion learners from effects of drought and hunger.
“Turkana North, Kibish, Turkana East and parts of Turkana Central are hard hit by drought. Most of the schools don’t have water and food,” he said, appealing to the government and non-governmental organisations to donate food to schools.
Resident Simon Echom of Kerio, Turkana Central, has called on the government to revive the feeding programmes in schools.
He said a daily school meal would provide a strong incentive for families to send their children to school and keep them there.
Echom said feeding programmes in school will also improve cognitive abilities, increase attendance and reduce dropouts.
“Over the years, school meals have helped a countless number of Kenyans get an education and make a good life for themselves. This safety net is indispensable,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the programme has been suspended by the Ministry of Education,which has affected both the learning and nutrition of primary school learners especially here in Turkana,” Echom said.
Turkana county government said more than 640,000 people are in dire need of food as the drought persists.
Last month, Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok has said the drought is worsening and has reached the 'alarm' stage.
Effects are being felt throughout the arid region as people cry out for food and lifestock lose weight, some sicken and die.
No human deaths have been reported from the effects of drought, Nanok said on Monday at county headquarters in Lodwar.
“Turkana has just entered into an alarm stage of drought. The effects are much felt along the Lakezone area, Todonyang, Kangatotha, Kerio and the Kalapata are severely affected,” he said.
The governor criticised the lower prices of livestock, saying the average price of a goat has plummeted from Sh4,000 to Sh2,500.
The National Drought Management Authority says more livestock diseases were reported in pastoral zones such as Lokori, Letea, Lokichar and Kaeris wards. It cited contagious bovine pleuropneumonia
Sites along the fisheries livelihood zone reported cases of pest pestis ruminants and sheep and goat pox.
(Edited by V.Graham)
