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President William Ruto has affirmed that the government will continue to expand the school-feeding programme to ensure no child is left out in learning.

Ruto said the number of learners under the school feeding programme will be increased from the current 1.5 million to four million yearly.

“Many children are not going to school because of hunger. We want to increase the number from 1.5 to four million under the programme because we want to make sure every child is in school,” he said.

He added: “In our budget this year, we have increased money to ensure there is food in our schools. We have schools in different environments like the Arid and Semi-Arid areas, informal settlements and many children are not going to school because of hunger.”

The Head of State lauded Nairobi for its school feeding initiative that complements the Government’s programme, to ensure that at least 250,000 in the county have food in schools.

“We want to make sure we cater for our children. Saa zingine wale tuko na chakula nyumbani hatujui kuna nyumba zingine hakuna chakula (Sometimes, those of us with food at home do not know there are people without any food). We must be sensitive and that is why we will continue to do what are we doing,” the President said.

He was speaking at Deliverance Church in Lang’ata where he attended the Sunday service.
Ruto said education is important because the Government wants to ensure all children get a chance to go to school.

The President emphasised that education is critical because it will boost human capital and subsequently change the economy, saying Kenyans are most sought after because of their hard work.

“Kenyans are hardworking people and we are known globally. Because Kenyans are hard working, we must firm our education system because it will help us to have a stronger human capital to ensure we change our economy,” he said.

“And that is why we have employed, for the first time ever, 56,000 teachers this year to ensure all children go to school and make sure we can have an equal society,” he added.

Young people

Similarly, Ruto stated that the Government will continue to put money in universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions and with the change in funding model, more young people will be accommodated.

“We must be concerned about the vulnerable. This year, 45,000 will get 100 per cent scholarship. We want to support every family,” he affirmed.

On the housing programme, Ruto affirmed that the project has been frequently criticised, however, he assured that it will be a game changer in various fronts, including creating employment for thousands of young people.

For instance, Ruto said there will be radical reforms in Kibra, to be transformed from a slum to an estate in 10 years, as Government seeks to build at least 200,000 houses in Nairobi in five years.

“We will remove people from the slums… hii Kibra iko hapa na zile slums ziko Nairobi, kwanza hii ya Kibra, in 10 years hakutakuwa na slum hapa (we want to remove people from Kibra and other slums in Nairobi, especially Kibra, there will be no slum in 10 years, we will have changed it to an estate. God will help us to make it happen,” he said.

Ruto said the project not only aims at building more houses but also create more job opportunities so that people can live in decent houses.

At the same time, the President reiterated that all leaders should commit to work together to deliver for Kenyans who elected them into office.

“It is our commitment as leaders to work together, from across the political divide, across the country and all religions so that we can have a country we can all be proud of,” he said.

Ruto noted that one of the challenges in the country is food production and the Government will continue to support farmers to produce adequately.

“I remember we prayed at Nyayo Stadium and many people mocked us but God heard our prayers. We had an initiative to distribute fertiliser and the Government lowered the price, our farmers were hardworking and today we have food in our farms,” he stated

According to Ruto, the Government plans to raise the number of farmers receiving fertilizer next year to seven million, up from four million this year to ensure there is adequate food in the country.

“Sixty years after independence, it is not right that we still have challenges with hunger in our country. We are supposed to have sorted out the challenge of food. We will support our farmers.”