Rachel Ruto Calls for United Push to Keep School Children Fed
KILIFI COUNTY —First Lady Rachel Ruto has called for coordinated national efforts to keep food on the plates of Kenya’s schoolchildren. Her remarks came during a visit to Kachororoni Primary School in Ganze, Kilifi County, where she promoted the expansion of the national school feeding programs.
Speaking directly to students, teachers, and local leaders, Ruto said hunger should never be a barrier to learning. “A packet of milk is power in a child’s hand. Investing in a child’s nutrition is investing in Kenya’s future,” she said. “This is the difference we make when we come together.”
The First Lady pushed for broader partnerships among government agencies, businesses, and local communities to sustain school feeding efforts. She emphasized that consistent meals in schools, especially in marginalized regions, directly affect classroom attendance and performance.
Her visit spotlighted the National School Milk Program, a key component of the Feed One End Hunger initiative led by her office. The program supplies milk to public primary schools and teaches students how to grow fruits and vegetables through kitchen gardens and orchards. It aims to build self-reliant schools capable of producing their own food.
“Our mission is to empower schools to grow their own food. This creates a direct connection between nutrition and education,” Ruto explained. “We want every school compound to become a place where children learn how to grow food and eat well.”
At Kachororoni Primary, 22 students have already replicated the program at home. Ruto praised their initiative. “The joy and pride they express in cultivating their own food is proof of the program’s success,” she said.
Kilifi Deputy Governor Flora Chibule and Woman Representative Gertrude Mbeyu joined Ruto during the school tour, where they inspected gardens and spoke to students who benefit from daily milk and produce.
According to the most recent assessments from education and health authorities, nutrition programs like these reduce absenteeism and improve student concentration, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. Field data shows that consistent access to food increases school enrollment in regions where hunger remains a challenge.
The Feed One End Hunger campaign has been implemented in various counties and continues to grow with backing from regional governments and community-based organizations. Ruto stressed that its sustainability depends on joint responsibility. “This is not a government issue alone. We all have a part to play,” she said.
The First Lady’s visit also served as a rallying call to leaders and stakeholders to protect and expand the feeding program amid rising living costs and climate-related food disruptions.
