The Meru County Assembly has expressed doubt over the sustainability a school feeding programme after the executive spent Sh53 million to provide fortified porridge to learners for one term.
Governor Isaac Mutuma launched a School Porridge programme targeting 63,946 currently enrolled in 784 public Early Childhood and Development Centres (ECDE) across the county.
A supplementary budget report tabled at the county assembly indicates that the county spent Sh50 million on procuring porridge flour while Sh3 million went towards training officers on safety standards.
This means that the devolved unit has allocated a capitation of Sh829 per learner in the second academic term of 2026 for every pre-primary 1 and pre-primary 2 learner in Meru County.
The Meru County School Meals and Nutrition policy, passed early this year, projected a capitation of Sh400 per learner per term to provide porridge daily.
The policy indicates that the capitation would be determined from time to time.
“The budget implication will be pegged on learner’s enrolment. Each learner will receive a capitation of Sh400 per term translating to Sh1,200 per child per year.” The document states.
However, the doubling of the second term capitation to over Sh800 per learner has caused jitters in the county assembly, with MCAs warning that the programme may become unsustainable in the long run.
On Wednesday, the select committee on county budget and appropriation directed the executive to undertake a sustainability study on the ECDE porridge programme after the massive spending.
In 2018, the county government introduced free milk for ECDE learners but the initiative was also stopped as it was found to be financially unsustainable.
Committee chairperson Martin Makasi, who is also Nkuene ward representative, warned that Sh53 million was too much for supplying uji for one term.
“…The committee notes with concern that the expenditure will only cater for provision of porridge to 63,000 learners for only one term…This means the county could incur expenses of up to over Sh150 million to finance the programme for a full school calendar year,” Mr Makasi noted.
He added, “The committee recommends that rhe department of education do submit to the County Assembly a report on the sustainability of the implementation of the Meru County School Meals and Nutrition policy.”
Makasi said there was a need to enhance accountability in the feeding programme to ensure residents get value for money.
The budget committee chairman said they hoped that the allocation of Sh54 million would cover two academic terms.
Speaking when he launched the project earlier this week, Governor Isaac Mutuma said the feeding programme is anchored in law and policy.
“The flour we have procured meets all food safety standards. It adheres to the guidelines and quality standards set out in the policy document,” Governor Mutuma said.
He said the programme is meant to address absenteeism and improve enrollment in ECDE centres.
“This initiative will particularly be of great impact in semi arid areas of Meru where there is perennial crop failure. We want to ensure that no child is left out because of hunger. It will also contribute to development of interpersonal skills critical for young learners,” he said.
Previously, the county assembly refused to fund a similar project initiated by former governor Kawira Mwangaza for lack of a policy document.
The School Meals and Nutrition policy provides guidelines on procurement, storage, handling and hygiene, cooking and rations for every learner.
