By: Josphine Kasimu
The Kitui County Woman Representative, Dr Irene Kasalu, has appealed to both the national and county governments to urgently reintroduce school feeding programmes in Ukambani, warning that hunger is increasingly threatening the education and wellbeing of learners in the region.
Dr Kasalu said prolonged food shortages in Kitui County have left many pupils attending schools on empty stomachs, a situation she described as detrimental to concentration, attendance and overall academic performance.
Kitui is among Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), where rainfall patterns remain highly unreliable, often resulting in poor harvests and chronic food insecurity.
Speaking to journalists in Kitui town on 3/2/026, shortly after launching a National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) full scholarship programme for Grade 10 to 12 learners, the Woman Representative said the hunger crisis has reached alarming levels.“Many families in Kitui County are struggling to put food on the table due to prolonged drought. Learners are expected to attend school daily, yet many of them do so without a meal, which puts their education at serious risk,” Dr Kasalu said.
She cited that the last rainy season, which was characterised by insufficient and poorly distributed rainfall across large parts of the county, leaving farms unproductive and households without adequate food supplies. According to Dr Kasalu, the situation has forced families to make difficult choices, often prioritising basic survival over education-related needs.“Kitui lies on the drought belt, and without deliberate intervention, life becomes extremely difficult for residents. Learners cannot be expected to perform well academically when hunger has become a daily reality,” she added.
Dr Kasalu noted that her office has already taken steps to seek support from development partners and humanitarian organisations. She revealed that she has written formal letters to several organisations appealing for food assistance, particularly targeting schools in the most affected and remote areas.“Through the Office of the Woman Representative in Kitui, I have reached out to organisations that can support the supply of food to schools. This will help learners stay in class and improve their learning experience, while also supporting vulnerable women and elderly people who struggle to access meals,” she explained.
She stressed that school feeding programmes have previously played a critical role in improving school attendance and retention, especially in drought-prone regions. Reintroducing them, she said, would provide immediate relief while long-term solutions to food insecurity are pursued.
Dr Kasalu called on organisations that have received her appeals to act with urgency, warning that delays could worsen the situation for thousands of households.“Hunger requires a rescue mission. Concentrating in class with an empty stomach is an almost impossible task. We urge both levels of government and our partners to act swiftly and restore school feeding programmes to protect the future of our children,” she said.
