School Children in all 198 Public Early Childhood Education Centers across the County are set to enjoy free meals after Members of the County Assembly recommended budgetary allocation to the program.
In a session which was chaired by Mutithi Ward MCA who also doubles up as the Deputy Speaker Hon. Jinaro Njamumo, Members adopted a motion that seeks to factor a total of Kes. 8 million towards implementation of the program in the upcoming financial year.
Through the Committee on Education which is headed by Murinduko Ward MCA Hon. Charles Nyamu, Members further signaled a ray of hope to ECDE learners after urging the executive to appropriate a total of Kes. 16 million towards digital literacy in ECDE centers run by the County Government.
“Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) requires children to be exposed to digital learning and now that we have a partner by the name EIDU, the department of education should allocate Kes. 16 million towards the program” Hon. Nyamu said.
Besides enjoying free meals and experiencing digital technology, pupils will also benefit with a total of Kes. 4.2 million which will go towards purchase of furniture and learning materials across Public ECDE Centers in the County.
Needy secondary, tertiary and university students are also set to benefit from an enhanced bursary kitty which is expected to increase from the current Kes. 95 million to Kes. 148 million in the next fiscal year.
Vocational Training institutes were also not left behind with members planning to appropriate a total of Kes. 5 million towards enhancing capacity across all the 16 centers.
A cross section of members were in support of the motion with Nyangati Ward MCA. Hon. Kenneth Mwendia, noting that the school feeding programme will largely benefit students from needy households. His contribution was supported by a host of MCAs including Hon. Harrison Kariuki, Hon. James Wambu, Hon Eric Muchina and Hon Grace Kamau all of who welcomed the idea saying it will improve quality of education.
On implementation, Kariti Ward MCA Hon. Jeremiah Makimi, urged the executive to ensure that the anticipated projects are fast-tracked and implemented to the letter so that learners can enjoy benefits within the shortest time possible.
In the meantime, students from Kianyambo Secondary School in Njukiini Ward and Kiburu Junior Secondary in Mukure Ward were today privileged to witness debate at the Assembly Chambers where they learnt legislative procedure among other Parliamentary practices.
Mukure Ward MCA Hon. Thomas Mwangi, encouraged the students to work hard noting that their dreams are valid. He encouraged them to work hard and emulate the likes of the Speaker of the County Assembly Hon. Muteti Murimi who is a distinguished alumnus of Kiburu primary School.
Similar words of encouragement were said by Njukiini Ward MCA Hon. Timothy Kariuki who noted that education is the only known equalizer hence the need for students to be focused in their studies