More than 3000 early childhood education learners in Sagante Jaldesa and Karare ward in Saku sub-county have benefitted from Fortified porridge flour, Sugar, Salt and cooking oil donations.
The donation is meant to reduce hunger and malnutrition, as well as the absence of learners in schools due to hunger.
County Chief Officer of Education Qabale Adhi Bulbul flagged off 6,847 kilograms of porridge, 1600 kilograms of sugar, 228 kilograms of salt and 740 litres of cooking oil to benefit learners in 37 centres.
The donation was made by Food for the Hungry.
Speaking in Marsabit during the launch of the program, Qabale said it will help increase early childhood development education enrollment, transition and retention rates in addition to nutrition.
"Every child will be served with a cup of porridge every day to reduce hunger and malnutrition as well as prevent learners from failing to attend school because of lack of food," said the chief officer.
Qabale pledged to ensure that there would be accountability for the porridge and other items delivered to all ECDE centres.
She commended FH Kenya for its commitment to supporting learner's education, saying the food donated will undoubtedly alleviate food insecurity.
" The food items donated by the FH will complement county government efforts in keeping early childhood education learners in school," she said
She commended Governor Mohamud Ali for investing in infrastructure development, saying his investment had supported the education sector.
"Governor Mohamud Ali's administration has hired enough teachers and built a model class to allow learners to attend school," she said.
She said Governor Mohamud's administration also provided teaching and learning materials to improve the quality of education provided in ECDE centres.
" Early education is vital for children as it was the only option for them to build their capacity to learn different things," she said
"Apart from paying school fees, parents have a cardinal responsibility of inculcating the right values, which will build acceptable character and behaviour in their children."
She further called on the parents to help their children discover their talents outside academic fields, saying that with the country embracing a competency-based curriculum, learners were bound to exhibit their talents.
"Parents should support their children to discover their talents and stop the notion that it's only in the academic fields that their children can excel," she said
County Director of Education Issack Hassan assured that the food items will be kept safe, away from contamination.
He said that teachers were provided the necessary knowledge on how to keep food safe.
He hailed the food for the hungry for their donation, saying it will keep children in school while providing nutritional diets.
Issack said the county government under the leadership of Governor Mohamud Ali has invested a lot in early childhood development education across the county.
Public health officer Bernard Njoki confirmed that extensive aflatoxin testing had been conducted at Marsabit Hospital laboratory and the porridge meets the recommended safety levels.
She advised teachers responsible for the centres to diligently adhere to the recommended storage procedures to preserve and maintain porridge's nutritional value.