A senate Bill sponsored by ODM Member is seeking to re-introduce free milk to Primary school learners.
Nominated Senator Beatrice Kwamboka (ODM) proposes re-introduction of free supply of milk to all pupils and pe-primary learners, under the Basic Education (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
The new milk Bill says distribution would be handled by county directors of education.
“School milk programmes not only positively contribute to the growth of the dairy sector, but they also improve nutrition and increase school attendance,” the Bill reads.
The Bill will be up for the First Reading in the Senate on Tuesday.
Kwamboka said school health and nutrition interventions have been recognised as critical in meeting the Millennium Development Goals of universal basic education and gender equality in education access.
“The national government shall in consultation with county governments and, to increase school enrolment and to ensure the nutritional well-being of learners, provide milk to learners enrolled in pre-primary and primary schools,” the proposed law reads.
The Cabinet may prescribe the criteria for supplying milk to schools and implementation of other school feeding programmes.
Kwamboka says schools taking part in the programme provide a guaranteed market for milk for smallholder farmers who produce 80 per cent of Kenya’s milk.
She says the United Kingdom’s school feeding programme was the first component of welfare reform in 1906.
In Brazil, the school feeding progamme is prioritised in the Zero Hunger Strategy to address hunger and ensure the human right to adequate food for all.
“School health and nutrition programmes, particularly when embedded within broader child development strategies, are an integral part of the long-term development of a child,” the Bill reads.
“As part of inclusive of maternal and child health as well as early childhood development, school health and nutrition programmes are critical in ensuring a child is able to reach their full potential,” it reads.
- ODM leader Raila Odinga to tour Kisii from September 14th
- Murkomen Reveals Details of A Deal Gone Wrong Haunting Malala
- Atwoli Addresses Claims of Turning His Home into a Drinking Den for Politicians
- Mukhisa Kituyi Joins The Much Contested Race To Replace Uhuru in 2022
Kwamboka is evidently reading from the same script with Manchester United Player Marcus Rashford who has been on the fore-front in the push to end child poverty. Rashford has been lobbying the government to extend free-feeding programme which eventually succeeded.
If Kwamboka’s Bill sails through, it will be a re-introduction of free milk as during Moi’s era, the same programme was initiated but later cancelled for proving to be unsustainable for the successive governments.
