Nyandarua County has officially rolled out Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) feeding programme aimed at boosting learning outcomes and improving the welfare of young children.
The programme launched at Mumbi Comprehensive School in Kaimbaga Ward is designed to enhance school attendance, improve nutrition and retain learners in early education in class.
Speaking during the launch, Governor Kiarie Badilisha described the ECDE feeding programme as a flagship initiative of his administration, noting it will benefit thousands of children across the county.
He added that the County Government was currently constructing 25 modern kitchens that, once complete, are expected to serve over 24000 learners.
“We are launching a unique feeding program to feed over 24000 ECDE learners. We shall be feeding 19 schools from a single kitchen. We have kitchens spread across all the Sub-Counties. We want to give our kids fortified porridge to boost growth and ensure our kids grow healthy.
“We shall be using trained motorbike riders for supply and the porridge containers will have seals that are tamper-proof and can only be opened by the specific teacher in each ECDE centre,” said Badilisha.
Beyond its impact on education, he added that the programme is also creating economic opportunities, with over 2,000 jobs already being generated, with locals engaged as cooks, plumbers, food distribution riders, and support staff.
On her part, County Executive Committee member for Education Agnes Njunji noted the feeding programme is expected to significantly improve concentration levels among learners besides addressing cases of absenteeism linked to food insecurity.
According to Nyandarua County Nutritionist Rose Wangechi, the region is still grappling with issues of malnutrition despite residents being major producers of agricultural commodities.
She says that children with nutritional deficiencies during the first 1000 days have a lifelong disadvantage in terms of productivity and economic potential.
The Kenya demographic and health survey (KDHS) of 2022 records that Nyandarua County has stunted growth for children at 18 percent with the national percentage at 18 percent as well.
The survey also indicates that four percent of children in Nyandarua are underweight against a 10 percent national level, while two percent children are wasted in the county against five percent nationally.
By Antony Mwangi
