Food Aid reaches Kenyan Schools

Plan food aid arrives at a primary school in drought-hit Machakos, eastern Kenya.

Plan has started delivering food to schools in Kenya's drought-hit district of Machakos as part of its emergency school feeding program which will reach 150,000 children across the country.

For pupils in Liani community, the maize, beans and oil dispatched are the first aid supplies they have received since the drought crisis hit.

Hunger pains

Liani Primary School’s deputy headmaster, Onesmus Malombe, hopes that the food will help stem the tide of school drop-outs.

"As the drought got worse, we started experiencing high numbers of absences. Some of the boys go looking for whatever they can get to sell so that they can buy food for their families. Some have become involved in child labour such as brick-making.

"The situation is challenging. Some children are coming to school but during the day they complain of feeling unwell. We can tell that it is hunger that is making them weak and affecting their work," said Mr Malombe.

Vital support

The nutritious food aid will continue through the school holidays and provide vital support to families struggling to feed their children.

"I am happy my child can take at least a meal a day," said Mwikali, a parent of an 11-year-old pupil. "At home we have nothing to eat."

Amina, aged 9, who attends another primary school in the feeding program, said: "We have not had food for two days now at home. We are seven of us - my brothers and sisters including our grandparents who live with us."

"We only eat at school as most times there is no food at home," she added.

Plan action

In addition to the school feeding program, Plan's emergency drought response in Kenya includes trucking in water, medicine, and delivering therapeutic feeding programs, shelter and hygiene promotion to vulnerable communities. We aim to reach more than 260,000 people.

Plan is also providing emergency response in Ethiopia where nearly 1 million people will be assisted with nutritious food for young children and mothers, school meals, water, seeds, livestock and fertilisers.

In South Sudan, Plan is working with the World Food Programme to ensure that children, especially girls, are supported with nutritious food so they can continue their education. More than 40,490 children from 76 schools are benefiting.

Find out more about Plan's East Africa drought response

Donate to our East Africa Drought Appeal - Children in Crisis