More than 7000 learners in Laikipia County have benefitted from porridge flour to improve nutrition courtesy of the office of the first lady Rachel Ruto.
Laikipia county deputy governor Rubeen Kamuri speaking in Nanyuki on Tuesday during the official flagging off the food aid consignment, said that the 250 bales of the flour would address malnutrition among the school learners in the county.
“We are glad to receive this food aid that is expected to benefit our learners across the county. We have received 250 bales of porridge flour and will benefit over 7000 students,” said Kamuri.
Kamuri pointed out that the porridge would ensure pupils do not miss out of school due to hunger and at the same lauded the initiative noting it was timely.
Office of the first lady, Mercy works Secretary Edward Ngaira said that the government was committed to alleviating hunger in the county among the learners aimed at boosting education.
‘’The first lady is committed to reaching out to the families and children with no food and I call upon other partners to join us in making such children geared initiatives successful in bid to keep them in school,” said Ngaira.
Additionally, Ngaira said that Laikipia has arable land and soil fertile to practice farming and urged stakeholders for collaboration and increase food basket through agriculture as a lasting solution to hunger in the county.
“The best solution to addressing hunger in our county is through agriculture. Laikipia is fertile for agriculture and while we address food shortage, there will at the same time be job creation,’’ urged Ngaira.
On his part, Habitat for Humanity Kenya internal adviser Koome Kiragu called for more donors in bid to increase the number of beneficiaries. The flour is expected to be distributed across all schools in the county.
By Muturi Mwangi
