It's unfortunate that the government is unapologetically humiliating Kenyans with its endless sordid amendments, proposals and high taxes.
Recently, the National Treasury proposed scrapping the Sh4.9 billion School Feeding Programme. The first SFP was launched in Kenya in 1966 under the stewardship of the National School Feeding Council.
It was restructured by the government and other stakeholders and renamed the School Meal Programme in 1980. This amendment aimed at providing mid-day meals to children in public primary schools. This initiative mainly targeted those in arid, semi-arid areas and urban slums.
For years, this programme has had a positive impact on education. Ironically, those pushing for the scrapping of this programme survived on it. If it were not for it, they probably wouldn't have made it to where they are now. Many survived on the famous 'maziwa ya Nyayo'.
This is not the first time an imprudent proposal has been presented. Early last year, a proposal was made to privatise public institutions and sell them to international investors.
It's evident that the government has mastered the art of coming up with proposals meant to subject Kenyans to more harm than good without delving deep into their dire impacts.
Scrapping the school feeding programme means that only learners from well-off families and backgrounds would maintain school attendance. For years, this programme has pulled a good number of students to schools. In other words, it's like a trap the government has been using to keep children in school, especially those in ASAL regions.
It's shameful to see the government instead of enacting proposals that will see more learners enrol in school, do the vice versa. A society with low school attendance and high illiteracy rates records high crime rates and wars.
According to the Basic Education PS, about four million primary school pupils have been benefiting from this programme. Stopping it means that a good number of them will drop out.
School dropout has long-term consequences. First, there will be reduced employment opportunities because many people will not be knowledgeable and skilled enough to be employable. This will reduce the country's future economic status and net worth.
Secondly, crime rates will rise as dropouts look for means of survival. Many will engage in drug and substance abuse, endangering their health and society.
Thirdly, moral decadence and indiscipline cases will shoot up. This also means that teenage pregnancies and HIV infection rates will go up.
It's high time for government to reconsider this plan as it's a threat to not only the education sector but to society at large.
Rongo University
