The County Government of Uasin Gishu will soon be launching an initiative that will see all pupils in public Early Childhood Development Centers (ECDEs) get free milk.
Dubbed the Milk Feeding Program, the initiative is currently at the procurement stage.
According to County Executive Committee Member (CECC) for Education Dr Janet Rotich, once the procurement is completed, the program will be rolled out.
In an interview with Uasin Gishu News, the CECM revealed that Ksh60 million has since been allocated to facilitate the program.
The program, Dr Rotich said, targets over 40,000 ECDE pupils across the county.
“We have Ksh60 million which has been allocated for the initiative and it will soon be disbursed for the program to accommodate the milk feeding,” the County Executive said.
“Once we are done with the procurement and branding, the milk feeding program will be rolled out,” she added.
The county has already finalized the ECDE school feeding policy that will guide the implementation of the program.
Enhance ECDE enrollment
The program seeks to among others enhance school enrollment, reduce absenteeism as well as improve the concentration span of school-going children.
Further, the program targets vulnerable children such as orphans by ensuring they reach their maximum productivity through the improvement of their performance and their health.
“This will ensure we raise our children into positive transformation agents in society. Our kids will develop their brains and bodies and we will avoid children who are stunted by addressing their nutritional needs,” said Uasin Gishu County Economic Advisor Matelong Philip during an ECDE school feeding policy stakeholders engagement forum in February 2023.
Uasin Gisu has 654 ECDEs, all of which will be included in the program that is expected to be launched in a matter of months.
The County has over the years been investing heavily in the improvement of ECDEs, a docket which is a devolved function.
It is only months ago that it confirmed the employment of 1,300 ECDE teachers on a permanent and pensionable term.
The County Executive also says more teachers will be employed soon on similar terms.
