Construction of a mega kitchen at Gathima Secondary School in Lari Constituency is underway as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the Food for Education Tap 2 Eat program, which is providing meals to learners in day secondary schools across the constituency.
The kitchen, funded by the Lari NG-CDF, is expected to support the preparation and distribution of meals to learners in day secondary schools in the area, with plans underway to extend the program to day primary schools in Kagaa and Kamburu locations.
The Tap 2 Eat program was launched in the constituency last year and has continued to provide meals to learners while easing the burden of feeding costs on families.
Lari Member of Parliament Mburu Kahangara said the construction of more kitchens was necessary to support the expansion of the program and ensure that all learners in the constituency could benefit.
He said parents of children enrolled in day secondary schools contribute Sh30 per day towards their children’s meals under the program.
Kahangara said registration had been rolled out to primary schools after all day secondary schools had been covered, paving the way for the expansion of the program to more learners.
The digital system will enable parents to access their children’s feeding accounts through their mobile phones, making it easier for them to monitor and manage their contributions.
The MP said the initiative was aimed at easing the financial pressure on parents by helping meet the cost of meals while their children are in school. “I believe that this milestone will ease the burdens of school levies for all parents,” Kahangara said.
The Gathima Secondary School kitchen is expected to be completed and operational by next year, paving the way for efficient preparation and distribution of meals to learners in the targeted day secondary schools
The initiative is expected to improve learner welfare and support education outcomes by ensuring children have access to regular meals during school hours.
A well-fed learner is better placed to concentrate in class, participate in school activities and take full advantage of educational opportunities and the Tap 2 Eat program therefore seeks not only to provide meals but also support learning by ensuring that learners do not have to remain in school for long hours without food.
Kahangara said additional kitchens are being constructed in other parts of the constituency to accommodate learners as the program expands.
By Grace Naishoo
