Kenya sets ambitious target to expand school feeding programme

President William Ruto has announced an ambitious national target to expand Kenya’s school feeding programme, aiming to reach 10 million children by 2030 as part of a strategic effort to combat hunger and enhance school attendance across Kenya. 

Speaking at the Ministerial Meeting of the School Meals Coalition in Nairobi, Dr Ruto called on global leaders and partners to support the initiative, emphasizing the pivotal role of school meals in improving education outcomes, particularly in drought-prone and impoverished regions.

"Our children spend the majority of their time in school, and ensuring that they receive at least half of their daily meals there is not just a necessity but a fundamental right,” said Dr Ruto. 

He acknowledged the historical significance of the school feeding programme in Kenya, which dates back to 1966, just three(3) years post-independence.

"This initiative has always been at the heart of our nation’s commitment to education,” he added.

The expansion of the programme, initially supported by the World Food Programme (WFP), has led to notable progress in both enrollment and retention rates. 

Since the WFP’s involvement in 1980, the initiative has grown significantly, shifting to a sustainable, homegrown model by 2009 and expanding to benefit 2.6 million students nationwide by 2018. 

"This is a more than tenfold increase from the initial 240,000 students we reached at the start,” noted the head of state, emphasizing the transformative impact of local sourcing, which not only benefits children, but also bolsters the agricultural sector and the Kenyan economy.

The President outlined a comprehensive goal of increasing the program’s reach to 10 million children by 2030, particularly focusing on expanding coverage in arid and semi-arid regions, as well as informal settlements.

To achieve this, the government has tripled its budget for school feeding, launched a scale-up operational plan, and increased agricultural efforts to ensure sustainable food supply across the country. 

“We’re scaling our agriculture sector to enhance food security for all, not just for our children but for all Kenyans,” he asserted.

Acknowledging Kenya’s dedication to sustainable, climate-resilient initiatives, Dr Ruto highlighted the adoption of climate-friendly practices in the feeding programme, such as clean cooking and drought-resistant crops, which align with Kenya's commitment to climate resilience.

“Through the Call to Action for Climate-Friendly School Feeding, we’re embracing eco-friendly solutions that address hunger and climate challenges in tandem,” he stated.

President Ruto also extended an invitation for further global partnerships, recognising the importance of collaborative efforts to combat food insecurity on an international scale. 

“Achieving universal school meal coverage demands global cooperation, and we invite more organisations to join us in this mission to ensure no child is left behind,” he said, commending leaders like President Lula da Silva of Brazil and Emmanuel Macron of France for their commitment to the cause.

As a crucial next step, President Ruto emphasized the government’s parallel focus on health and education as foundational pillars for Kenya’s future.

 Noting efforts to expand universal healthcare coverage to primary and secondary school students and plans to construct additional classrooms, Dr Ruto concluded, “As we feed our children, we must also ensure their health and quality education. These are the investments that will safeguard our nation’s future.”