First Lady Rachel Ruto has urged elected leaders from both national and county governments to allocate more resources towards improving child nutrition across the country.
She underscored the need for increased funding to establish school kitchen gardens and sustain milk programmes aimed at boosting learners’ health and academic performance.
“Let us make the national school milk programme not just a pilot, but a permanent pillar of a school feeding strategy,” said the First Lady.
Rachel made the remarks while presiding over the distribution of milk to learners at Kachororoni and Gandini primary schools in Kilifi County.
The First Lady launched the school milk pilot project last year under the Feed One, End Hunger initiative, which seeks to enhance child nutrition and support the dairy sector.
The programme provides learners with a packet of milk twice a week for a year in 11 schools across five counties.
“This project has already shown early success, but to reach all children, we need sustainable funding,” she noted.
The initiative is a collaboration between Feed One, End Hunger and the Kenya Dairy Board, with support from various milk processors.
“Our mission at Feed One, End Hunger is to empower schools to sustainably grow and produce their food. We believe in harnessing the potential of every school compound to create a haven for learning and nutrition,” Rachel said.
She further called on leaders, communities and county governments to prioritise sustainable water solutions, which she said are critical for food security initiatives.
The First Lady was accompanied by Livestock Development Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke, Ganze MP Kenneth Kazungu, Kilifi Woman Representative Gertrude Mbeyu and Kilifi Deputy Governor Florah Mbetsa.
Mueke commended the partnership between the ministry, the First Lady and other stakeholders in rolling out the school milk programme, kitchen gardens and women empowerment projects.
“We thank you for your support. You are an inspiration to all of us,” the PS said.
He described the school milk programme as a bold step towards securing the future of children and building a healthier nation.
“I urge all stakeholders, including county governments, to support and expand this initiative,” Mueke added.
Ganze MP Kenneth Kazungu praised the First Lady, noting that she is the first to visit Ganze Constituency.
He said the school milk programme would help keep children in class and attract more enrolment.
Kazungu rallied residents to support President William Ruto’s administration, citing ongoing projects in the region such as road construction and electrification.
“The President has stabilised the economy, with inflation dropping to 3.8 per cent from 9.6 per cent in 2022, and the shilling strengthening to Sh129 against the dollar from a high of Sh162,” Kazungu said.
He dismissed critics spreading propaganda against the government and urged Kilifi residents to rally behind the President’s agenda.
Kilifi Woman Representative Gertrude Mbeyu highlighted the impact of poverty and hunger on school attendance, which she said was contributing to poor academic performance and low transition rates to higher education.
Mbeyu pointed out that Ganze has untapped natural resources which, if well utilised, could transform the constituency’s economy.
Kilifi Deputy Governor Florah Mbetsa backed the creation of school kitchen gardens, saying they would promote healthier diets for learners.
“The county government supports school feeding programmes and is working with local farmers to promote profitable agricultural ventures,” she said.
Kenya Dairy Board acting managing director Kimutai Maritim thanked milk processors for supporting the national school milk pilot project.
Meru Dairy Cooperative Union CEO Kenneth Gitonga described milk as a critical component in children’s growth and announced that the union will supply milk to Kachororoni and Gandini primary schools for a year.
