Learners in day secondary and primary schools in Meru County have been hardest hit by the ongoing drought that has disrupted food supplies for many families since November last year.
Local leaders say prolonged dry conditions have left households struggling to provide meals for their children, a situation that has begun affecting school attendance and concentration in class.
The crisis prompted intervention from Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi, who on Monday joined Meru County Commissioner Jacob Ouma to launch the distribution of relief food to schools across the county.
Speaking during the launch, Ouma said the food supplies had been dispatched by the national government through the State Department for Special Programmes to cushion affected learners.
Murungi, who also serves as Deputy Speaker of the Senate, said primary and day secondary schools were facing significant challenges, with hunger emerging as the most urgent concern.
“The drought has inconvenienced many families and become a serious menace. When the rains eventually came, many farmers were unprepared. Some had not prepared their land or secured fertilizer and certified seedlings for planting,” he said while releasing the first consignment to headteachers and Boards of Management (BOM) representatives.
Ouma said the food support was intended as a mitigation measure to ensure learners remain in school and are able to concentrate on their studies.
“The relief food arrived in the county after Senator Kathuri lobbied the Cabinet Secretary. We are aware many families are affected by hunger and such interventions will help keep learners in school,” he said.
School heads welcomed the intervention but warned that hunger had already started affecting attendance.
Doris, the headteacher of CCM Good Shepherd, said some learners had begun dropping out of school due to lack of food at home.
She thanked President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki for supporting the initiative and urged the government to extend the relief programme to all schools in the county, particularly those located in arid and semi-arid areas.
“You are a true leader. On behalf of headteachers, learners and Boards of Management, we are grateful to Senator Kathuri, President Ruto and his Deputy Kindiki for considering the welfare of learners,” she said.
Edited by John Majau
