With the opening of Term One across the country, some regions have experienced inadequate rainfall, resulting in poor harvests within local communities. This situation has adversely affected school performance, with many children dropping out due to a lack of food both at home and in schools.
One of the affected areas is Kishushe in Taita Taveta County, where the community has relied on relief food for many years due to persistent drought and unreliable rainfall.
However, a wave of hope has swept through Kishushe following a food donation by members of the Kishushe Ranching Cooperative Society Ltd, who delivered much-needed support to local primary schools, bringing relief and nourishment to hundreds of children and families grappling with food insecurity.
The initiative was funded through a donation from the East African Safari Classic Rally organizers. The cooperative invested the funds directly in food supplies for schools, which were distributed equitably among five institutions: Kishushe, Ngongodinyi, Mlilo, Daku, and Mkanyatta primary schools.
“The food did not come from ranch funds. We were given this money by the East African Safari Classic Rally organizers, to whom we are very grateful. They donated KSh 150,000, which was used to purchase the food. The money was meant for the community but was channelled through the ranching cooperative,” said Wilfred Mwalimo, the ranch secretary.
Parents have welcomed the intervention, noting that the area has endured nearly two years without reliable rainfall. With crops failing, many households have been unable to provide basic meals, allowing hunger to creep into classrooms and negatively affect attendance and concentration.
“This food donation will help a lot because school attendance has been low. The drought has caused food shortages in our shambas, and with this support, attendance will improve. We believe education standards will also improve,” said Joshua Mwawasi, a parent.
Despite the relief, the cooperative acknowledged that the supplies were insufficient to last the entire school term. A shortfall of 157 bags of maize and 50 bags of beans remains.
To address long-term needs, the Kishushe Ranching Cooperative Society Ltd has engaged the community on the possibility of allocating part of its KSh 30 million corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to support school feeding programmes. The leadership also plans to encourage incoming investors to contribute to food supplies for schools as part of their community obligations.
“We are requesting the Kishushe community to allow us to use some of the CSR funds to buy food for these schools so that parents can have peace of mind this term as they seek employment and prepare for the next school term,” said Mwalimo.
The youthful leadership of the Kishushe Ranching Cooperative Society, led by chairperson Matilda Waleghwa, has been vocal in advocating for community interests and the equitable sharing of benefits from the cooperative and its investors.
“Our investors have agreed to support the food programme, and I fully support it as well. As a parent, I understand the impact of hunger on school attendance. My committee and I are committed to ensuring that these children attend school and learn in a conducive environment,” said Waleghwa.
The initiative highlights the importance of partnerships and community-led solutions in safeguarding children’s right to education, particularly in areas severely affected by environmental and economic challenges.
To sustain the programme and keep children in school, more well-wishers have been urged to support the initiative.
