Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1198978,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1198978/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 204,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kakamega County, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Elsie Muhanda",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "we have Hon. Members who have started feeding programmes in their areas like Hon. Christopher Aseka and Hon. Milemba. We thank them, but it is not easy given the budgetary constraints. We equally have the Ministry of Education which has some feeding programmes in ASAL areas and slums. This is not enough because the whole of Kenya needs the feeding programme. Used primarily to incentivise enrolment and retention of rural children and girls, subsidised meal programmes have played an integral part in realising the country’s goals of universal primary education. Historically, the involvement of NGOs has greatly limited the Kenya Government’s role in the direction of stewardship of these programmes. Reliance on donor support and management has subjected the programmes to fluctuating and often, conditional support from the actors. Financial strains and infrastructural challenges have been the major setback in the Government’s ability to successfully fund and operate its own feeding programme. Noting the effects of the recent COVID-19 Pandemic, it has really affected the primary attendance of schools. You find that most children have not been guaranteed completion of their school learning. The risks for children during this pandemic have included, families falling into deeper poverty, threats to survival, health and child safety and exacerbation of the learning crisis. Widespread unemployment, income loss and budget constraints have severely affected household financial ability to keep students in schools. As for the poorest households, budget constraints have caused them to keep their children out of school. Since schools re-opened, children have not reported to school in many parts of Kakamega County. Hon. Deputy Speaker, for the sake of that poor child in Kenya who fainted during parade because of hunger; for the sake of the poor parents; for the sake of us having high retention; for the sake of the child who fell prey to goodies along the road because of lack of food and eventually got pregnant; for the sake of children in the drought areas and for the sake of malnourished children, the school feeding programme must work. As I conclude, this is important in order for the Government to ensure a 100 per cent transition from pre-primary to primary, to secondary enrolment and also improve attendance. School meals are an important safety net strategy for the disadvantaged vulnerable majority of school going children facing security challenges in Kenyan households and communities. Therefore, I wish to request the Members to support me and resolve that the Government, through the Ministry of Education and the relevant State departments, to develop a school feeding policy. This will ensure a coordinated approach to provision of school meals for learners at all basic levels of education and propose budgetary allocation to sustain this programme, so as to ensure that children are maintained in schools for effective learning. Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move and request Hon. Omboko Milemba to second this Motion. Thank you."
}