Food for Education (F4E) Expands to Kakamega, Providing Meals for 14,000 Students.

Food for Education (F4E) Expands to Kakamega, Providing Meals for 14,000 Students.

Food for Education (F4E) has launched a kitchen in Kakamega, feeding more than 14,000 children in 28 public primary schools.

Micheal Njiru, the Area Lead for Kisumu and Kakamega, mentioned that Kakamega is now the 10th county where F4E operates, alongside Kiambu, Murang’a, Nyeri, Uasin-Gishu, Nairobi, Kisumu, Kajiado, Machakos, and Mombasa.

F4E currently provides meals to 450,000 children daily across 1,263 primary schools in Kenya. Njiru shared the organisation’s goal to expand their kitchen network and serve at least 1 million public primary school children by 2027, aiming to address hunger during school hours.

The program focuses primarily on eradicating hunger in public primary schools, an issue that remains significant.

The reception in Kakamega has been overwhelmingly positive, with children and parents alike expressing satisfaction with the program.

The initiative has not only provided meals but also created jobs for locals. F4E has hired 32 Tap to Eat School Managers (TSMs), 61 Food Servers, and 27 kitchen workers, contributing to employment in the area.

Balanced Diet and Hygiene Standards

Linet Ndungwa, the F4E Kakamega Kitchen Manager, emphasized that the students receive a balanced diet consisting of carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins.

Meals typically include rice as the main carbohydrate, paired with beans, Ndengu, or green grams, and accompanied by vegetables like cabbages and carrots.

Strict hygiene standards are maintained throughout food preparation, delivery, and serving. Staff undergo three days of training, covering both theoretical and practical aspects of their duties.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are in place to ensure food safety, and all workers wear protective gear, including hairnets, gloves, and masks. Handwashing stations are also strategically placed around the kitchen.

Simon Sichenje, the TSM for Nyayo Tea Zone Primary School in Lurambi, explained that TSMs help children during lunch by scanning wrist tags, which deduct the meal cost automatically. Parents pay Sh. 15 per day for their children to participate in the program.

Payments are made through MPESA, and each child’s account is linked to their wrist tag, ensuring smooth transactions.

If a child misplaces their wrist tag, they can still eat that day using their parent’s account number, but the tag will need to be replaced for future use.

Improved Health and Attendance

Reports from parents suggest that their children’s health has improved since the program started.

Sichenje added that the children are more focused and regular in their attendance, with head teachers appreciating the program for saving time and improving student concentration in class.

Nyayo Tea Zone Primary School’s Deputy Head Teacher, Gentricks Weleta Okwako, highlighted that the program has eased the burden on both parents and teachers.

Previously, parents had to contribute maize and beans for school meals, a system that was unsustainable for many.

Now, students are served promptly and return to their afternoon lessons on time, allowing for uninterrupted learning.

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The School President, Blessing Rispar, noted that the program saves time that would have been spent going home for lunch.

A parent, Geoffrey Lumumba, expressed relief over the program, stating that it allows him to focus on providing for his family.

He previously gave his child Sh. 50 for lunch daily, but the F4E program’s cost of Sh. 15 per day is a significant relief. He also hopes that the saved time will contribute to improved academic performance for his child.

Food for Education (F4E) Expands to Kakamega, Providing Meals for 14,000 Students.

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