The Council of Governors (CoG), in collaboration with Food for Education, is crafting a comprehensive school feeding framework designed to help counties roll out sustainable and locally tailored nutrition programmes for children in Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres.

Addressing County Education Executive Committee Members (CECMs), CoG Education Committee Chair and Kericho Governor Erick Mutai said the 47 county governments continue to grapple with widespread malnutrition among pre-primary learners.

He highlighted that cases of stunted growth, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies remain prevalent, severely affecting cognitive development and academic potential in young children across the country.

“This upcoming policy is aimed at ensuring counties implement accessible, inclusive, and high-quality feeding initiatives,” said Mutai.

“It will also outline long-term financing strategies, encourage partnerships across sectors, promote use of locally sourced foods through farmer cooperatives, and introduce data-driven evaluation tools.”

According to Governor Mutai, the strategy will be embedded within County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs), backed by designated funding channels, capitation grants, and strengthened collaboration with private entities and community groups.

The model will promote localized food procurement by linking farmer cooperatives with ECD centres, supporting the setup of school gardens and agricultural clubs to foster nutrition education from an early age.

“We intend to involve local communities through nutrition awareness forums, establish school meal committees, and implement inclusive feedback mechanisms that ensure marginalized voices are heard. Community involvement and oversight will be crucial for success,” Mutai added.

He said the broader aim is to improve children's health through structured meal planning and micronutrient supplementation, while simultaneously boosting school attendance, learner retention, and mental development.

To ensure transparency and effectiveness, a Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, and Learning (MERL) framework will be introduced.

This digital system will align with national guidelines but be flexible enough to reflect local needs, supported through intergovernmental collaboration.

Mutai acknowledged that post-devolution efforts to feed schoolchildren have faced multiple setbacks, including inadequate funding, lack of coherent policy, fragmented programmes, and weak institutional frameworks making them vulnerable to disruption.

The Council of Governors hopes the new policy will not only improve child nutrition but also stimulate local economies through enhanced partnerships with farmers and ensure that no child is left behind due to poverty or social exclusion.

Meanwhile, Nairobi County has already rolled out a successful feeding programme known as Dishi na County, currently benefiting 310,000 learners across 230 public primary schools.

Governor Johnson Sakaja, who leads the initiative, noted that each of the city’s 17 sub-counties now has a central kitchen capable of preparing up to 1,000 meals daily, targeting children in low-income areas.

“This programme has significantly increased school attendance, particularly in informal settlements. We’ve seen a 34% rise in enrollment since it started,” Sakaja said, also thanking President William Ruto for backing infrastructure development in public schools.

He explained that Dishi na County is focused on providing nutritious, consistent meals to children from vulnerable families who might otherwise go without lunch, ensuring that food insecurity does not hinder their education.