Siaya: Orengo Acknowledges Partners Who Made ECDE Schools Feeding Program A Success

Speaking during the launch of the school feeding-program-cum-Siala Kaduol ECD classes, Orengo said his government has partnered with Rockefeller Foundation, UNICEF, Food for Education and Eccospatt Enterprises to roll out the school feeding program for the entire County.

Under the partnership, Siaya has allocated KES 60 million while Food for Education will undertake the construction of kitchen facility within the 30 ECDE centers to be set up in the 30 Wards.

“Food for Education is going to support construction of 2-3 modern kitchens in every Ward and also source fortified porridge ingredients from Siaya farmers.”

Ecosspatt Enterprises based in Nakuru is milling the fortified flour, which is a combination of sorghum, millet, soya beans, maize, rice mong other ingredients.

The third partner is the Fortified Whole Grain Alliance which is part of Rockefeller Foundation and will be tasked with upscaling the school feeding program beyond ECD all the way to Primary and Junior Secondary School (JSS).

“They will also capacity-build micro-millers and provide 30 mixers that will help mix ingredients to make them fortified flour.

The grain alliance team will also link local millers to the centres while the fourth potential partner is UNICEF who pledged financial assistance.

Orengo said the partnership is a remarkable one and its going to facilitate a school feeding program that will retain more than 50,000 pupils in class and improve their nutrition.

“We are happy with the program and we are committed to expand it in future, “said Orengo adding that the program will have a reasonable budget that will sustain it.

According to Education Executive Dr. Edgar Otumba, the idea of the school feeding program was mooted during the era of ex-Governor Cornel Rasanga Amoth and it failed to be actualised universally

“The idea failed to materialise in two decades of Rasanga’s regime and again in Orengo’s administration it took two years to actualise and today we are here to launch it,”

Otumba lauded the then CECM in charge of Education, Rosnell Odondi for putting up necessary strategies that helped actualise the program.

On absorption of teachers into permanent and pensionable terms, Orengo said only few teachers that did not meet the threshold that had their terms reduced to contracts.

“I had committed that I wont pay you stipend but to ensure you are on full time employment. Those who ended up with contracts because they did not meet the required qualifications have been requested to work on how to meet the qualifications in three years so as to be put on Permanent and Pensionable terms”.

The Governor was accompanied by Governance Executive Agunda Ochanda, Agriculture Executive Sylvester K’Okoth, Lands Executive Maurice Orege, Water and Environment Executive Prof Jaqueline Oduol, Tourism Executive Anjeline Oduor, Health Executive Dr Martin K’Onyango, Chief Officers led by Richard Ogeda and MCA’s, Brian Chieng(South Gem), Seth Baraka(East Gem), Michael Adiala(Uyoma South), Oliver Arika (South Sakwa). said some teachers could not go into permanent and pensionable terms because they were remaining with 1-2 years to retire.

“I can never allow anybody to be paid as a casual in a month. I have been an advocate of the down trodden and cant allow it to happen in a county I lead, “said Orengo, adding “some teachers could not go into permanent and pensionable terms because they were remaining with 1-2 years to retire. We considered all that.”

First Lady Betty Murungi Orengo who was part of the launch said the program is a milestone and catalyst to the naturing care program dubbed Siaya Smart Start.

Through the program, kids are given opportunity to be themselves, grow and thrive.

“We are happy that the program will not only increase enrolment in schools but also influences retention in schools,” Mama Betty said.

Read more: https://siaya.go.ke