On a typical school day in many low-income neighbourhoods across Kenya, the battle for education begins long before the first bell rings.
For thousands of families facing rising food prices, irregular incomes, and deepening household stress, the choice between sending a hungry child to school or keeping them at home is a daily reality.
Hunger, educators agree, remains one of the most stubborn and underestimated barriers to learning.
As the world marked the International Day of Education on January 24, renewed attention has turned to school feeding programmes as a powerful, practical response to this challenge.
Far from being acts of charity, structured school meal programmes are increasingly being recognised as essential education interventions, keeping children in classrooms, improving concentration and narrowing learning gaps.
Across the country, evidence shows that when children are guaranteed a nutritious meal at school, attendance rises and learning outcomes improve.
According to Food4Education (F4E), a locally led school feeding social enterprise, regular access to school meals leads to an increase of up to 10 per cent in attendance in schools where its programme operates.
“When children know they will receive a hot meal at school, absenteeism drops significantly,” Food4Education’s Public Affairs manager Shalom Ndiku says.
She notes that families no longer have to choose between sending a child to class or keeping them home because of hunger.
“That assurance alone keeps more children learning consistently,” she says.
The impact extends well beyond attendance.
In classrooms, teachers report that well-fed pupils are more alert, less fatigued and better able to focus throughout the school day.
F4E evaluations show up to a 20 per cent improvement in national examination performance in participating schools, a clear indication that nutrition and cognition are closely linked.
“Hunger directly undermines a child’s ability to concentrate, retain information and participate actively in lessons,” Ndiku said.
“When children are properly nourished, learning becomes possible. Over time, this supports stronger outcomes and smoother transitions through primary school.”
School meals also play a critical role in easing household economic pressure.
In many urban informal settlements and rural communities, parents struggle to provide regular meals at home.
By guaranteeing at least one balanced meal a day, schools effectively cushion families against food insecurity while ensuring children remain in class.
Nutrition quality is central to this success.
Food4Education’s meals meet minimum dietary diversity thresholds, with significant improvements in protein, iron, magnesium and potassium intake, nutrients vital for brain development, immunity and physical growth.
A standard meal of rice and legume stew with vegetables provides about 700 kilocalories, more than a third of a child’s daily energy needs, nearly all protein requirements and over 180 per cent of daily iron needs.
“These meals directly close nutritional gaps that affect learning outcomes,” Ndiku says.
“They provide what every child needs to succeed: food that supports health, growth and the ability to learn.”
Yet despite clear gains, school feeding coverage in Kenya remains uneven.
Resource constraints, limited financing and the absence of clear support structures mean that many vulnerable children are still excluded.
Rising food prices have added pressure on both families and school systems, making affordable and scalable feeding models more urgent than ever.
Early Childhood Development centres and lower primary classes remain a critical gap. “This is where nutrition has the greatest developmental payoff,” Ndiku said.
“Reaching children early sets the foundation for lifelong learning.”
Partnerships, experts say, are key to closing these gaps.
Effective school feeding sits at the intersection of community engagement, government leadership and evidence-based programme delivery.
County governments can provide policy direction, coordination and financing frameworks, while community organisations support mobilisation and accountability.
Food4Education positions itself as a specialised implementer within this ecosystem, building systems, infrastructure and operational efficiency to deliver meals at scale.
When partnerships are aligned, duplication is reduced, costs per meal fall and programmes are tailored around local foods, supply chains and long-term sustainability.
This model is already showing results.
In Nairobi City County, the school feeding programme has been embraced as part of a broader strategy to improve education outcomes in public schools, particularly in informal settlements.
Governor Johnson Sakaja’s county has repeatedly highlighted the link between meals, attendance and dignity for learners.
“No child should have to sit in class on an empty stomach. This programme is about dignity, nutrition, and giving our children the energy to focus on their studies,” Sakaja said.
President William Ruto has underscored school feeding as a critical investment in human capital, noting its role in keeping children in school and supporting the government’s education reforms.
“Investing in school feeding programmes is investing in our future. No child should have to sit in class on an empty stomach,” Ruto said during a past event.
In Murang’a county’s Kiharu constituency, MP Ndindi Nyoro has pointed to school meals as a practical intervention that has boosted attendance and improved learning conditions in public primary schools.
“We have realised most students stay at home because they don’t want to go hungry in school,” reflecting the importance of meals in keeping learners in class,” he said during an event in Kiharu.
In Kiambu’s Githunguri constituency, MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has similarly emphasised the importance of feeding programmes.
Wamuchomba noted that this supports vulnerable learners and stabilises school participation.
“This programme is a major achievement for our community. By ensuring our students receive a nutritious meal each day, we are addressing one of the critical barriers to education, hunger,” she said.
For policymakers, the lesson is clear.
“School feeding must be treated as a core education investment, not an emergency or welfare add-on,” Ndiku says.
“Meals are as essential to learning as textbooks and teachers.”
Integrating school feeding into education policy and budgets allows programmes to be planned, staffed, and financed sustainably.
Prioritising locally sourced food and digital transparency systems reduces leakage, stimulates local economies, and builds resilience, ensuring feeding programmes support both today’s learners and tomorrow’s workforce.
Food4Education exemplifies this approach.
Currently serving over 600,000 children daily in more than 1,500 public primary schools across at least 15 counties, the organisation designs and runs efficient, safe and affordable feeding systems at scale.
Since inception, it has served more than 150 million meals, created over 5,000 jobs, most held by women and parents, and supported local farmers through local sourcing.
by FELIX KIPKEMOI
