For thousands of children in West Pokot County, a plate of food served at school is doing more than ensuring hunger, but it is keeping dreams alive, restoring hope to struggling families and ensuring learners remain in classrooms despite the harsh realities of drought and poverty.
In a region where recurring dry spells and food shortages have pushed many households to the brink, education officials say the government’s school feeding programme has emerged as one of the most effective interventions in improving school enrollment, attendance and academic performance among vulnerable learners.
West Pokot Director of Education Yophes Onduso Magara says the initiative has transformed schools across the county by reducing dropout cases, addressing malnutrition and helping children stay focused in class.
Speaking after the distribution of food supplies to schools in West Pokot, Magara described the programme as a critical pillar in sustaining free primary and basic education in the county.
“The school feeding programme is more than just meals on a plate. It is helping us address school dropout rates, poor academic performance and increasing cases of malnutrition among learners,” said Magara.
He noted that while the government’s free education policy opened schools’ doors to millions of children across Kenya, hunger and poverty continue to hinder access to education in arid and semi-arid regions.
“In many parts of west Pokot, the presence or absence of a meal in school determines whether a child attends class or stays at home,” he said.
The county has for years grappled with recurrent droughts that have devastated household food supplies and pushed many families deeper into poverty. As a result, some children are forced to abandon school to herd livestock, work on farms, help with household chores or search for food for their families.
Others who persevere and attend classes often do so on empty stomachs, making it difficult for them to concentrate, actively participate in lessons or perform well academically.
However, Magara said the school feeding programme has significantly changed the situation, with schools now reporting increased enrolment and improved attendance, particularly in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centers and lower primary classes.
“Parents are now more willing to send their children to school because they are assured they will receive at least a meal a day,” he said.
According to the education director, the programme has greatly reduced absenteeism and dropout cases among vulnerable learners while enabling teachers to plan lessons more effectively due to consistent attendance.
Magara commended the Government for continued support through school meals, capitation funds and infrastructural development programmes aimed at strengthening education standards in the county.
“The food we receive in schools is extremely important because it helps us retain learners in class. Most parts of this county are dry, and children need meals during the day so that learning can continue uninterrupted,” he said.
He added that besides improving school attendance, the meals provide vital nutritional support that keeps learners healthy, energetic and alert in class.
Magara further appealed to development partners, well-wishers and donors to support the programme to ensure sustainability and food sufficiency in schools.
At the same time, the education director raised concerns over increasing cases of child labour in gold mine areas following a recent mine collapse in the county.
He urged parents, community leaders and administrators to ensure children remain in schools instead of engaging in dangerous mining activities.
“The rightful place for children is in school, not in the mines,” he stressed.
Also speaking after the exercise, Wekesa Kuywa, the Head Teacher of Chewoyet Comprehensive school and Kenya Primary schools Head Association (KEPSHA) Chairman for Siyoi Zone, said the school feeding programme has had a direct and positive impact on enrolment and attendance across schools in West Pokot.
“Whenever learners hear that food is available in school, classrooms immediately fill to capacity,” Kuywa said.
He explained that even schools located near urban centres and municipalities continue to face severe poverty, especially in informal settlements within Siyoi and Kapenguria wards.
According to him, whenever food stocks are depleted, school attendance automatically drops as children leave school to work on farms or seek casual jobs to help provide food for their families.
“Now that the government has brought food to schools, attendance has risen close to 100 percent because learners no longer have to leave school in search of food,” he said.
Kuywa disclosed that schools have benefited from the latest food distribution exercise, with supplies allocated according to enrolment figures.
He praised the government for ensuring a smooth distribution process and for prioritizing education in hardship areas.
“We appreciate the government for supporting learners in this region because the programme has given schools’ managers an easier time and ensured children remain in school throughout the day,” he said.
Education stakeholders in the county hope that the continued support for school feeding programme will not only improve learning outcomes but also shield vulnerable children from hunger, exploitation and child labour while securing a better future for communities affected by poverty and climate-related hardships.
By Anthony Melly
