Laikipia: The food donations, which include rice, beans, and porridge flour, have been delivered to at least 55 primary and secondary schools across the county. The initiative is spearheaded by the national government in collaboration with KAPU Africa, the Segera Feeding Programme, Segera Mission Hospital, and the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK).
According to Kenya News Agency, Laikipia County Commissioner Duncan Muyesu stated in Nanyuki town that the programme targets learners in the hardest-hit areas where most households are grappling with acute food shortages. He emphasized that the initiative aims to ensure learners remain in school despite the ongoing drought that has affected many families in the region.
Muyesu highlighted that the intervention targets schools to stabilize enrolment, improve retention, and enhance the academic performance of learners. He added that the government had already delivered 300 bags of rice and 260 bags of beans, each weighing 50 kilograms, to support the feeding programme in the affected schools.
Segera Feeding Programme Director Koome Kiragu underscored the importance of supporting learning institutions during the prolonged dry spell, noting that hunger can significantly disrupt learning. Kiragu clarified that no school in Laikipia County has been closed due to the drought and applauded the government and other well-wishers for supporting schools facing food shortages. He stressed that this initiative will help ensure that learners remain in school and continue their education.
Kiragu further called on more stakeholders and development partners to support the programme to ensure its sustainability and expand its reach to more vulnerable schools. Laikipia is among the counties listed as food insecure following the prolonged drought affecting parts of northern Kenya. Pastoral communities have been particularly affected, with many families migrating in search of pasture and water for their livestock.
