The findings of the Council of Governors (CoG) through the Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA) study are not merely statistics – they are a national call to action. Undernutrition, particularly among children under the age of five, is not only killing our youngest citizens but also silently eroding our country’s economic and social fabric.

In 2014, undernutrition claimed one in five child deaths, cost Kenya Sh373.9 billion, and deprived the economy of nearly seven percent of GDP.

These are not abstract figures. They represent lost potential, grieving families, and generations that are being left behind. Even more distressing is that 1.8 million children under five are stunted, their bodies and brains denied the nourishment they need to thrive.

The newly proposed mandatory county-wide school feeding programme, supported by all 47 counties, is not only timely – it is necessary.

If well implemented, it could become one of the most transformative post-devolution policies since the 2010 Constitution ushered in a new era of localised governance. What makes the school feeding programme so vital is that it strikes at the heart of the problem through a multidimensional approach.

It is a health intervention, offering children balanced nutrition. The programme is an educational tool, increasing school enrolment, performance, and retention. And critically, it is an economic policy, boosting local agriculture through homegrown food sourcing and reducing the long-term burden on public health and social welfare systems.

Nairobi’s pioneering Dishi Na County programme has already proved the power of this model, feeding over 300,000 learners and increasing school enrolment by 34 percent. This is the kind of data-driven, results-oriented governance that needs to be replicated and scaled up across the country.

For this programme to deliver lasting impact, every county must commit to embedding school feeding in their Integrated Development Plans with clear budget lines, strong monitoring systems, and inter-sectoral collaboration.

As counties work to finalise and implement the model school feeding policy, it is vital that the national government, development partners, and the private sector come on board. Together, they can ensure that no child is left behind because of hunger, and that every plate of food served in school is a symbol of equity, dignity, and hope.