In a bid to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) that greatly addresses child undernutrition, the Kenyan constitution of 2010 secures every Kenyan right to be free from hunger, to have adequate food of acceptable quality and every child the right to basic nutrition.
Furthermore, the national strategies and development policies which form a basis to the ‘big
four’ agenda, firmly highlights the aspect of reducing children under nutrition.
Despite the country’s increase in economic growth, studies still show that one third of the
Kenyan population is largely living in abject poverty. The implication of under nutrition in
children is mostly felt in the education sector in terms of underperformance in class and school absenteeism.
To address these issues, the Ministry of Education in 2009, kicked off a national school feeding program in order to provide health meals to school going children. The main purpose was to improve performance and achievement in education but also inject capital into local agriculture production by procuring produce from farmers.
Proper nutrition plays a major role in the mental growth and performance of every school going child. According to Dorcas Obure a Nutritionist in Nairobi, Kenya; proper nutrition for school going children helps in; improving immune system, preventing mineral and vitamins deficiencies, improving their ability to learn and deliver, improving their memory, reducing occurrence of non-communicable diseases making them healthy, strong and active.
Eddy’s Kitchen, just like the government of Kenya and other feeding programs is aimed at
delivering warm, healthy, nutritious meals to school going children The foundation advocates for transformation by investing in the lives of children to foster healthy physical development,
academic and mental growth.
The beneficiaries of this program are schools with children from extremely poor families that are largely unable to provide the minimum recommended daily allowances of calories, protein, and essential micronutrients to their children. The foundation clearly understands that such poor conditions may permanently stunt the mental and physical development of young children which will affect their potentials. Beyond free meals, the foundation is set to partner with local agricultural organizations to train students on farming sustainable nutritional production to transfer skill sets to the community.
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Author: Elsa Olande, CODE El' Communications Media LTD
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