Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang Nyong’o has launched a major initiative by flagging off a consignment of food items worth Sh 25 million.
This is aimed at providing nutritious meals for nearly 50,000 learners in public Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres across the county.
During the flag-off ceremony held at the Governor’s office, Prof Nyong’o emphasised the critical role of Early Childhood Education, stating that it serves as the foundation for education worldwide.
He expressed the belief that efforts to pursue education would be ineffective without a strong ECDE framework.
Within Kisumu County, there are a total of 653 ECD early childhood education centres, 596 of which are integrated within primary schools and 57 are designated as standalone public ECDE centres.
The public ECDE centres collectively cater to 43,549 children, consisting of 21,525 girls and 21,698 boys.
Since 2015, the County Government of Kisumu has implemented a feeding program to provide nutritious meals for young learners, thereby enhancing enrolment rates, retention, and overall educational performance.
The initiative aims to combat the challenges faced by children from low-income families in both rural and urban informal settlements, particularly issues related to food insecurity, malnutrition, and stunting.
“Good nutrition is integral to the learning experience during the formative years. We have consistently supported the school feeding program by supplying rice and oil to our centres, complementing the efforts of parents,” Governor Nyong’o stated.
This initiative aims to drive a positive impact, leading to higher completion rates and a goal of 100 percent transition to the next educational level.
Moreover, the Constitution of Kenya, under Article 53, guarantees free and compulsory basic education, which includes health and nutrition for all children.
Early childhood
The health and nutritional status of children play a crucial role in their overall growth, development, and learning potential.
It is recognised as a key phase for rapid brain development, necessitating access to adequate health care, nutrition, early education, and care to secure a promising future for every child.
This comprehensive approach, which merges sufficient nutrition, good health care, early stimulation, communication, and emotional support, is essential for ensuring proper growth and development.
The County boss called upon various stakeholders—political leaders, religious organisations, individuals, NGOs, and all well-wishers—to join forces in support of this vital cause.
“The food items we are launching today, valued at Sh 25 million, include rice valued at Sh 16.3 million, beans worth Sh 6.5 million, and cooking oil priced at Sh 2.2 million, aimed at feeding nearly 50,000 ECDE learners in public centres,” Nyong’o remarked.
Additionally, further learning materials worth Sh 19 million will be distributed to all ECDE centres, with Governor Nyong’o reiterating his administration’s commitment to ensuring that quality education is accessible to all our children.
By the close of the 2024/2025 financial year, Kisumu County had distributed 3,500 bags of rice, 1,080 bags of beans, and 700 tins of cooking oil to support this initiative.
