KISUMU, Kenya — First Lady Rachel Ruto has flagged off relief supplies for distribution to 39 day secondary schools across Kisumu County, in an intervention targeting about 12,000 learners affected by drought.
The supplies were flagged off Tuesday during an event at Lwala Kadawa Comprehensive School, with learners from five drought-affected sub-counties set to benefit from the State Department for Children Services initiative.
The programme seeks to support vulnerable children and families facing the effects of the ongoing drought while helping ensure that learners remain in school.
Rachel Ruto distributes shoes and dignity kits
During the event, Rachel Ruto distributed shoes and dignity kits to learners and encouraged them to pursue their ambitions with courage, determination and confidence.
The intervention is designed to address some of the challenges that can affect school attendance and learning when families face prolonged drought and economic hardship.
The students will also benefit from meals supported by donations of essential food supplies, including maize, rice, beans and cooking oil.
The relief items are being distributed to beneficiary schools to help provide food for learners during the four-day intervention.
Government steps up child welfare support
The event brought together the Principal Secretary for Medical Services, representatives of the Kisumu County Government, National Government officers and development partners.
The participation of officials from different sectors highlighted the government’s emphasis on a coordinated approach to supporting children and vulnerable households affected by drought.
Principal Secretary for Children Services Carren Ageng’o thanked the First Lady for supporting the initiative, saying such interventions can help restore hope and confidence among vulnerable children.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting children’s rights and improving their welfare.
“The State Department for Children Services remains committed to strengthening partnerships and advancing interventions that safeguard the rights, dignity and wellbeing of every child, particularly those in vulnerable circumstances,” she said.
Ageng’o said partnerships between government agencies and other stakeholders remain important in delivering services to children facing difficult circumstances.
Relief supplies to support school attendance
A technical team led by Secretary for Children Services Shem Nyakutu is coordinating the distribution of the relief supplies while also providing mentorship and other essential services to learners.
The supplies include beans, maize, rice, cooking oil and other essential items, alongside dignity kits for girls.
The four-day intervention is intended to support learners’ dignity, health and wellbeing while addressing practical challenges that could prevent children from attending school.
Providing food at school is also expected to ease pressure on vulnerable families struggling to meet household needs during the drought.
39 schools across five sub-counties targeted
The programme targets 39 day secondary schools serving learners in five drought-affected sub-counties of Kisumu County.
About 12,000 students are expected to benefit from the intervention, which combines food assistance with other child-welfare support.
The approach recognises that drought can affect education indirectly by putting pressure on household incomes, food availability and children’s ability to attend school consistently.
By providing meals and essential supplies within schools, the programme seeks to reduce some of those barriers while supporting learners to continue with their education.
First Lady holds women’s empowerment meeting
Earlier on Tuesday, Rachel Ruto attended a women’s empowerment meeting at Kisian Chief’s Camp before proceeding to Lwala Kadawa Comprehensive School.
Her Kisumu programme therefore combined the school relief intervention with an engagement focused on women’s empowerment.
At the school, she interacted with learners and encouraged them to remain focused on their education and future aspirations despite the challenges facing their communities.
Child Welfare Society oversees distribution
The Child Welfare Society of Kenya and the Directorate of Children Services are overseeing the distribution of the relief supplies to the beneficiary schools.
The agencies are working with the technical team and other stakeholders to ensure the donated food and essential items reach the intended beneficiaries.
