The government has stopped relief food organisations from supplying 17 schools in Kilifi with food after a video emerged showing pupils being forced to recite prayers from the religion of the donors.
In the video, schoolchildren could be seen struggling to recite Hindu prayers before being offered food.
Following the incident, Kilifi County Commissioner Josphat Kibiwott ordered the immediate suspension of food programmes in Kilifi schools, adding that an investigation into the matter is underway.
“In August, we received a report that some schools, 16 primary schools and one high school had a meeting in Mombasa and changed the system on how they have been providing food,” said Kibiwott.
“We have stopped the children's foundation from supplying food to our schools until further notice. If you want to help, do so in a good way, not by forcing learners into practices that are clearly wrong, as seen in those video clips,” he said.
He explained that the food programme had been running in schools since 2019 and the alleged new changes where pupils are reciting Hindu prayers were introduced only in this third term.
In the image and video obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, in other schools, pupils were made to sit as they recited what was written on the board.
In another school, the head teacher was also seen taking part in asking students to recite the prayer while holding food as part of the routine before they got food.
In another clip, there were portraits linked to Krishna Foundation hanging on the walls of the staffroom of one of the schools.
The viral video created a public uproar.
Elimu Bora Working Group condemned the incident stating that no child should be coerced to compromise their belief for food.
“No child should be coerced to compromise their beliefs for food or education," the group stated.
