Treasury slashes school feeding budget by Ksh.2.4B

Appearing before the committee chaired by Budalangi MP Raphael Wanjala, Education PS Belio Kipsang revealed to the MPs on Tuesday that the school feeding programme has been getting additional budgetary allocation except for the 2024-2025 Financial Year.

"In the school feeding, we received  Ksh.1.96 billion in the 2022/ 2023 Financial Year. We also received  Ksh.5.4 billion in the 2023 /2024 Financial Year. But this time round we have a reduction and now we have been allocated Ksh.3 billion," PS Belio Kipsang told MPs.

Marakwet West MP Timothy Kipchumba questioned why the reduction of the school feeding budget. The lawmaker further warned that the budget cuts could lead to food rationalisation for learners.

"PS can you tell this committee if the budget cuts will now see our learners put under food rationalisation," posed Marakwet Wet MP.

The Ministry of Education assured the committee on implementation that there are ongoing engagements with the Treasury to review the allocation under the supplementary budget.

"We are not going to withdraw any benefit (food) from our learners," added PS Belio.

So far the ministry says the school feeding programme is benefiting 2.6 million children mostly drawn from arid and semi-arid areas and city slums.