First Lady Rachel Ruto Calls for Global Partnerships to Expand Kenya’s School Meals to 10 Million Learners by 2030
Kenya’s school meals coverage grew from 1.8 million learners in 2023 to about 2.6 million, with a target of 10 million by 2030.
In Brief
- •Kenya’s school meals coverage grew from 1.8 million learners in 2023 to about 2.6 million, with a target of 10 million by 2030.
- •The First Lady highlighted support from the World Food Programme and The Rockefeller Foundation, and national initiatives such as the Mama Kitchen Garden and National School Milk Programme.
- •Kenya faces a Sh6.6 billion funding shortfall for the program, and the School Feeding Bill is pending in Parliament.
- •The program aims to link nutrition with local food production, climate action, and farmer incomes.
- •The Global School Meals Coalition was joined in 2021; the National School Meals Coalition operational plan launched in October 2024.
Why It Matters
Expanding school meals to 10 million learners by 2030 is intended to improve child nutrition, boost educational outcomes, and support local farmers and communities. By integrating clean cooking and local food production, the initiative seeks to address climate resilience and economic development, positioning Kenya as a model for holistic school feeding programs in the region.
Key Details
- Current Coverage
- 2.6 million learners (2023)
- Target Coverage
- 10 million learners by 2030
- Funding Shortfall
- Sh6.6 billion
- School Feeding Bill
- Pending in Parliament
- Global Partners
- WFP, Rockefeller Foundation
- National Initiatives
- Mama Kitchen Garden, National School Milk Programme
Context & Background
Kenya joined the Global School Meals Coalition in 2021 and launched a National School Meals Coalition operational plan in October 2024 to scale the program toward universal coverage by 2030.
Original Reporting & Sources
VNews is an independent briefing product. Original reporting remains credited to the following publishers:
This brief was synthesized automatically using attributed third-party reporting. VNews is a digital news publication produced under the VContent Group brand and operated by Francis Vincent Sunday in Ghana, independent from the publishers cited above. Read our AI Transparency Policy and Editorial & Corrections Policy.