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President William Ruto has made an ambitious promise to ensure every child gets a meal in school by 2030.

In a statement on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, the Head of State indicated that in the new plan, every child is expected to receive healthy and nutritious food while in school.

Ruto, who was among the leaders who convened in Nairobi for the ministerial meeting on the Global School Meals Coalition, stated that his Kenya Kwanza government is building partnerships with the private sector to scale up the school feeding programme.

President Ruto explained that the move is aimed at increasing school attendance and improving general performance.

“The synergy we are building with the private sector promises to sustainably deliver impact at scale on our school meals programmes,” Ruto’s statement read in part.

“By 2030, every child — especially the vulnerable ones — will receive a healthy and nutritious meal in school. This will dignify them, increase enrolment, enhance attendance and boost performance,” it added.

The synergy we are building with the private sector promises to sustainably deliver impact at scale on our school meals programmes.

By 2030, every child — especially the vulnerable ones — will receive a healthy and nutritious meal in school. This will dignify them, increase… pic.twitter.com/cwSF3dTG04

— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) October 29, 2024

Increased beneficiaries

Addressing the various leaders who convened in Nairobi, Ruto explained that the programme currently benefits 2.6 million students, a significant increase from 240,000 learners in 2009.

The head of state projected that the program aims to target 10 million learners by 2030.

According to the Head of State, the school feeding programme seeks to extend beyond enhancing education, promoting the agricultural sector, and creating employment.

“The outcomes have been inspiring: It is undeniable that Kenya has recorded exemplary rates of enrollment, retention and academic performance throughout the duration of the program,” he said.

While vouching for the programme, Ruto lamented that some Kenyans were still grappling with hunger. He, however, indicated that his administration had tripled budgetary allocation to alleviate the situation.

“Kenya is also addressing climate challenges by combining initiatives that promote resilience, including robust support for school meals, provision for local sourcing, and fostering sustainable practices such as clean cooking and the adoption of drought-resistant crops,” Ruto emphasised.