From left: Tharaka Nithi Deputy Governor Nyaga Muisrael, County's Governor, Muthomi Njuki and French Ambassador Kenya, Mr Arnaud Suquet addressing journalists after paying a courtesy call at the county headquarters in Kathwana town yesterday.
By MKT Correspondent
Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki has praised national government’s decision to buy food directly from local farmers for feeding learners from schools in arid areas.
Speaking yesterday at the county headquarters in Kathwana town when he hosted French Ambassador Kenya, Mr Arnaud Suquet and National Council of Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK) Chief Executive Officer) Mr Harun Yusuf, the County Chief said the new programme provides market for the local farmers.
He said for long government has been importing food to feed learners while local farmers are struggling to find a market for their produce bought by brokers at low prices.
“The changes provide a big market especially for the cereals produced by our farmers in our villages and this will greatly boost the local economy,” said Mr Njuki.
He said it will also be easy to ensure the quality of food fed to the learners because it is grown locally with the guidance of the county agricultural officers.
The county chief said the devolved government has helped farmers form cooperative societies like Gakiumia Cooperative Society in Tharaka constituency, Chiakariga ward which are already a beneficiary of the new programme so that it will be easy to benefit.
Mr Suquet said the French government through the World Food Programme (WFP) will continue supporting the feeding programme to ensure that learners from arid areas concentrate in school.
He said a learner should take at least one meal in school every day because there are chances that there is no food at home.
“Apart from promoting local farmers, the children are guaranteed of eating health indigenous food,” said Mr Suquet.
Mr Yusuf said initially government was feeding learners through cash transfer programme where school managers were given money to buy food where a total of 135 primary schools in Tharaka Nithi County are benefiting.
He said with the new changes, the NACONEK which is under the Ministry of Education will work closely with farmers groups in order to ensure that they produce quality food.
He said a total of four million learners are benefiting from the feeding programme nationally and President William Ruto’s target is to double the number by the year 2027 and attain 10 million by the year 2030.
The official pointed out that 95 percent of the rice eaten in schools in the country is imported while locals produce maize, millet, sorghum and other cereals which can be fed to the leaners.
“Government is coming up with innovative ways to sustain the feeding programme so that leaners can remain in school,” said Mr Yusuf.
He said the new programme which will be launched soon is being piloted in Tharaka Nithi and Embu counties.
Tharaka Nithi County Director of Education, Ms Bridget Wambua pointed out that enrolment is high in schools benefiting from the feeding programme.
She said during dry season learners from the semi-arid areas of the county are affected by hunger leading to school drop-out.
Gakiumia Cooperative Society chairperson Kinyua Mwamba said through the programme they are now earning better from their produce and many farmers have joined.
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