Kakamega county will partner with Tetra Pack, Naconek and Ingredion to implement a school feeding programme for ECDE learners.
Governor Wycliffe Oparanya said his administration targets 124,000 learners in the county once the milk processing plant becomes operational.
“This programme will help us retain the children and attract more to join school,” Oparanya said on Friday.
The programme is also part of the county government's plan to improve the health of the children and fight malnutrition.
The governor spoke during a consultative meeting with a team from Tetra Pack.
"The first client of the factory will be our ECDE centres to ensure children get free milk.
"We also have a high demand for milk therefore once completed, the factory will have a ready market," he said.
Once complete, the factory will be able to process 10,000 litres of milk daily.
Oparanya said that USAID has agreed to equip the factory at a cost of Sh500 million.
He noted that the county government has established smart farms in all 12 subcounties with each having 25 dairy animals to boost milk production ahead of completion of the factory.
He said milk from the smart farms will be supplied to the factory directly.
"We want to start recruitment of farmers to plant quality pasture for the dairy animals. We want to have a complete value chain for dairy sector in the county," he said.
Tetra Pack managing director Jonathan Kinisu said his company is ready to support the programme by providing technical support.
"We want to help Kakamega to actualise school feeding programme," Kinisu said.
Naconek which will be part of the programme intends to incorporate its cereal porridge in the feeding programme.
Education executive George Lutomia said implementation of the feeding programme will be a boost to ensuring that learners are retained so that they upgrade to the next academic level.
He added that due to high poverty level most parents could not afford food for their children, adding that learners operating on an empty stomach in class lost concentration and focus.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
