The government has rolled out an emergency education and child protection intervention in Nyando, Kisumu county.
The aim is to support learners affected by recurring floods and prolonged droughts that have disrupted schooling and exposed children to heightened protection risks.
The programme, launched at Lela Mixed Secondary School, combined emergency food support, mentorship and psychosocial care, the distribution of dignity kits, and the official inauguration of the Kisumu County Children’s Assembly.
It targets learners in day secondary schools in Nyando, one of the areas hardest hit by climate-related disasters.
Gender, Culture and Children Services CS Hanna Cheptumo said the intervention was designed to ensure children continue learning despite the growing impact of floods and drought, which she described as an education and child protection crisis.
Nyando has experienced repeated flooding in recent months, displacing more than 4,500 households, destroying homes, submerging schools and sweeping away learning materials.
Across Kisumu county, surveys indicate about 15,000 learners missed school due to flood-related disruptions, with girls and learners with special needs among the most affected.
The situation was further worsened by drought that followed the floods, leaving many households without livelihoods and increasing food insecurity.
As a result, some learners have been forced to miss school to help their families cope.
The CS noted the combined effects of floods and drought have led to hunger, illness, trauma, absenteeism, school dropouts, child labour and early marriages.
Girls, she said, are disproportionately affected due to increased domestic responsibilities and lack of hygiene and dignity materials.
“A survey conducted in Nyando showed a nine per cent reduction in the student population, attributed to displacement, absenteeism and dropouts,” the CS said.
She said education and child protection cannot be separated, noting that a child who is hungry, displaced or traumatised cannot learn effectively, while lack of protection exposes children to exploitation and undermines their education.
As part of the emergency response, the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services provided food support to learners in 24 day secondary schools across Nyando to ensure no child attends school hungry.
Learners will also benefit from mentorship and psychosocial support to help them cope with trauma, rebuild confidence and remain focused on their studies.
In addition, dignity kits were distributed to girls and boys to enable them continue learning in a safe and dignified manner.
The food support and mentorship programme are being implemented through the Child Welfare Society of Kenya under the State Department for Children Services.
Cheptumo said the intervention aligns with the government’s broader commitment to safeguarding children’s rights, noting that children make up nearly half of Kenya’s population.
She said President William Ruto has directed the ministry to protect all children in strict accordance with the Children Act, reinforcing child protection as a national priority.
The event also marked the official launch of the Kisumu County Children’s Assembly, a formal child participation structure established under Article 53 of the constitution and the Children Act, 2022.
The assembly provides a platform for children to express their views and contribute to governance and development processes at the county level.
Through the assembly, children will be nurtured in leadership, civic responsibility and accountability, while strengthening child protection by ensuring their concerns are heard and addressed.
Cheptumo congratulated the elected child leaders, including the governor and speaker of the assembly, and urged them to represent their peers boldly, responsibly and inclusively.
She urged national and county government officials, educators and partners to support the assembly and integrate children’s views into planning, budgeting and service delivery, even during emergencies.
Beyond the emergency intervention, the ministry reaffirmed its commitment to long-term social assistance programmes.
The CS urged parents, teachers, community leaders and other duty bearers to work together to protect children and keep them in school, describing education as a critical safeguard against poverty, exploitation and despair.
She stressed the need for zero tolerance to violence against children and gender-based violence in all its forms, including child labour, early marriage and harmful practices.
Cheptumo further called for continued collaboration between the national government, county authorities, development partners and communities to support learners affected by emergencies.
KCCA governor Aileen Florence Akinyi of Muhoroni Furaha Academy said many children in the county continue to face numerous challenges that hinder their education and overall well-being.
She said poverty, school dropouts, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse and natural disasters such as floods as some of the key issues disrupting learning across the county.
“Many children lack mentorship and emotional support, factors she said make it difficult for learners to remain in school and achieve their full potential. These challenges make it harder for children to stay in school and succeed,” she said.
by FAITH MATETE
