The majority of Kenyans want the school feeding programme which began back in 1979 with a school milk plan popular as “Nyayo Milk” launched by late President Daniel Moi.
The programme has been implemented over the years with varying degrees of success where learners in public primary schools receive mid-day meals.
In 2009, the school feeding programme was restructured into a more sustainable Home-Grown School Meals Programme (HGSMP) which prioritised the supply of local food to schools.
Under the HGSMP, the government disburses funds directly to schools and provides guidelines in key aspects such as the nutritional composition of meals and procurement processes.
The feeding programme was allocated Sh4.9 billion in the financial year ending June 30, 2024.
However, the National Treasury had scrapped the Sh2 billion budget for the school programme in the proposed budget estimates for the financial year 2024/25.
But on Monday, the National Assembly Education committee reversed the decision and reinstated the budget cuts for the financial year beginning July 1.
“The committee recommends that the Budget and Appropriations Committee considers allocating an additional Sh3 billion so that the entire amount is reinstated,” Education committee chair Julius Melly told the Appropriations Committee.
The Star on Wednesday hit the streets of Nairobi to seek the opinion of Kenyans on whether they support the scrapping of funding for the feeding programme as had been proposed by the National Treasury.
Majority opposed the proposal.
