Over 1,500 pupils from informal settlements in Naivasha are set to receive free school meals, thanks to a new initiative by VegPro Group, a leading vegetable and fruit exporter.
The company has pledged Sh500,000 per month to sustain the programme, ensuring students have access to nutritious meals thrice a day.
This announcement follows the unveiling of a Sh6 million modern kitchen and dining facility at Naivasha Lakeview Primary School, which serves pupils from Kihoto and Karagita informal settlements.
The initiative aims to boost school attendance, as economic hardships have forced many children to drop out of school due to a lack of food with most of their parents working for low wage paying flower farms.
According to VegPro’s Head of Sustainability, Purity Njue, the company is committed to supporting the program in partnership with the local community and law enforcement, who will provide a steady water supply to the school.
“VegPro has invested in the construction of a modern kitchen and dining facility and will continue to provide three meals a day for all 1,500 pupils,” Njue said.
She added that the company is also extending its support to Shermoi Primary School and Nanyuki Special School being part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment.
Local Viwandani MCA, Alex Mbugua, lauded the initiative, emphasising that the feeding program would encourage school enrollment and curb child labour, particularly among children forced into do fishing at Lake Naivasha to support their families.
“This noble initiative should inspire Nakuru County to implement similar programs for underprivileged pupils across the county targeting mostly children from underprivileged households,” Mbugua urged.
He also noted that the county is already providing free porridge to over 800 learners in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) facilities in his ward, thanks to funding from Nakuru County government.
Naivasha Lakeview Primary School headteacher, Hannah Wanjiru, lauded VegPro’s ongoing support, which has included constructing classrooms, desks, and the continuous supply of foodstuffs materials.
“This program will not only benefit our pupils but will also extend support to street children in the area,” Wanjiru said, expressing optimism that more children from informal settlements would enroll.
The initiative is also a wakeup call for county and area constituency office to speed up the implementation of such noble initiative that aims to harness the potential of bright children from underprivileged households.
Already, members of parliament from various constituencies have put in place noble polices targeting feeding programmes for thousands of learners.
For instance, Kiharu MP in Murang’a Ndindi Nyoro has committed to parents in his constituency that all students studying in all day schools will be paying a paltry Sh1,000 per term while other expenditures will be catered from the CDF in addition to free meals.
By Erastus Gichohi and Immaculate Kariuki