Gatanga Member of Parliament Edward Muriu has tabled a notice of motion before the national assembly in support of School Feeding Programs in Primary and Junior Secondary Schools across the Country
His proposal further includes a recommendation to revise the current Capitation per student from Sh1,420 per year to at least Sh7,760 per year.
In an exclusive interview with the Star, Muriu said the increase in capitation would help strengthen educational resources, infrastructure, and overall learning experiences for students in both Primary and Junior Secondary Schools.
He noted that the motion seeks to review the existing scope of the Education Bursary Scheme under the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) and Capitation for Learners in Primary and Junior Secondary Schools.
“The motion primary objective is to extend the support provided by the Education Bursary Scheme under the NG-CDF to cater specifically for the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in Primary and Junior Secondary Schools,” Muriu said.
He passionately expressed his belief that the current state of hunger in schools is a pressing issue that requires urgent attention.
"No child should suffer the burden of hunger while striving to build their future through education," he emphasized.
He added that the proposed School Feeding Programs are aimed at addressing this issue and ensuring that students receive proper nutrition to enable them to focus on their studies.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja recently unveiled a Sh1.2 billion food subsidy program that is set to benefit 250,000 children in the county.
According to Sakaja, there will be a construction of central kitchens within Nairobi for the school feeding program.
Sakaja added that parents will pay sh5 for each learner daily while the County Government of Nairobi will cater for the other costs.
He stated that the School Feeding Program dubbed ‘Dishi na County’ aims to feed children enrolled in public primary schools and public ECD Centres.