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{
    "id": 1199122,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1199122/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 348,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kitui West, WDM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Edith Nyenze",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to contribute. Let me take this opportunity to first thank God for being re-elected the second time. Let me also thank the people of Kitui West – Mutonguni, Kauwi, Kwamutonga/Kithumula, and Matinyani wards – for re-electing me. As I promised when I was campaigning, I will serve them with integrity and dedication. Let me also take this opportunity to congratulate you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, together with your team for this opportunity which you have been given to be in the Chairperson’s Panel. I served with you in a Committee, and I am sure that you will deliver. Let me congratulate Hon. Elsie Muhanda for the good Motion on Development of a School Feeding Policy. Let me also contribute briefly on the school feeding programme which was identified from the 1980s to address, in short-term, the hunger in some areas. It worked very well, but it has not been consistent. It is very useful in ensuring that pupils get the nutrients which they require so much. In so doing, they become attentive in school. It also ensures that students go to school because they know they will be fed. That improves their performance and makes the work of the teachers easy. They teach pupils who are well fed, healthy, happy and attentive. Without food, it will be difficult for teachers to even cover the syllabus, and also for the students to concentrate in school. The school feeding programmes should support the Government’s goal of education for all. There is almost 100 per cent transition from primary to secondary schools but with very poor performance. We cannot talk of that transition and education for all if there is no food, especially in the ASAL areas. The school feeding programmes should target these areas and ensure that there is equality in our country. All children sit for the same examinations, yet some come from disadvantaged areas that do not have food. This means there is no equity. The Government should, therefore, have a programme for distributing food to the needy. Some areas have bumper harvest and food goes to waste, yet other areas do not have food. Sometimes fruits rot in farms and milk goes to waste because they are in excess. If there were good programmes, the food could be transported to the ASAL areas by the Government during harvesting season. Foods such as maize and beans can be used to feed school going children. Similarly, we have areas that experience flooding, yet there are areas that do not have water. The Government could store this water, store food and initiate good plans and programmes to support people in disadvantaged regions. Efficient school feeding programmes can be done through proper policies, plans and Acts of Parliament. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}