First Lady Rachel Ruto has announced the launch of a pilot milk programme targeting school-going children across the country as part of the plan to energise and enhance children’s health as they learn.
Rachel Ruto, in a notice dated March 6, disclosed that the piloting will be conducted in schools within Migori County jointly with the State Department for Livestock Development and the Kenya Dairy Board.
At this event, the first lady will officially inaugurate the school milk programme, which is designed to offer pupils the nutritional advantages of milk to foster their growth and development.
As per the notice, the milk programme will commence on March 7, from 11 am, during which school children within Nyatike Constituency will receive the sponsored milk.
The milk will be provided by the Kenya Dairy Board, which is also responsible for packaging the product in unique packets to protect it from unscrupulous Kenyans who could tamper with the milk for re-sale.
Besides the first lady, other notable guests who are set to attend the event include Agriculture Principal Secretaries Julius Mueke and Joseph Motari alongside Migori Governor Ochillo Ayacko and other county officials.
“The First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, in conjunction with the Kenya Dairy Board and the State Department for Livestock Development, will Launch a pilot School Milk program in Migori County,” read part of the notice.
While confirming the event, the Migori County Government announced that the event will be held in Isebania Mixed Primary School and Bondo Kosiemo Primary School under the Feed One, End Hunger Agenda.
Rachel Ruto joins the list of key leaders across the country who have since embraced the free milk initiative for school children, particularly those in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE).
The leaders include Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and his Machakos Counterpart Wavinya Ndeti who recently launched a free milk programme for ECDE centres in their counties.
In April last year, Natembeya spent Ksh750 million for milk supply to over 41,000 ECDE children who are in 434 centres, an initiative that saw the pupils receive free milk twice a week.
“I'm urging teachers to help protect this programme for us to achieve the intended objectives. Let teachers ensure that no learner takes milk out of the school compound. This milk is meant for the learners and it should only be taken at school,” Natembeya advised.
