Mombasa county government is planning to provide free daily lunch to all day secondary school students, a programme expected to benefit nearly 40,000 learners across 137 schools. The initiative aims to improve education standards while addressing social concerns linked to student idleness.
Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said the programme would cover 32,285 learners in 64 public schools and 7,651 learners in 73 private schools.
Speaking at at an event during a career day organised by Nurturing Stars Organisation, he noted that keeping students at school through feeding reduces the risk of crime and antisocial behaviour.
A county government is planning to provide free daily lunch to all day secondary school students, a programme expected to benefit nearly 40,000 learners across 137 schools.
The initiative aims to improve education standards while addressing social concerns linked to student idleness.
Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said the programme would cover 32,285 learners in 64 public schools and 7,651 learners in 73 private schools.
Speaking at Tononoka Hall during a career day organised by Nurturing Stars Organisation, he noted that keeping students at school through feeding reduces the risk of crime and antisocial behaviour. “If learners are at home due to feeding costs, they are at risk of idleness, which can lead to crime,” he said.
Although counties are constitutionally responsible for ECDEs and TVETs, Nassir said there is a legal path for the county to support secondary school feeding.
The county currently provides daily meals to more than 12,000 ECDE learners, along with free learning materials and educational programmes. Previously, a Sh5,000 per learner capitation for day secondary students was halted by the Controller of Budget.
The governor said he is finalising legal approvals and has requested a response from the national Education ministry to allow the county to manage the school feeding programme.
He added that teachers should focus on teaching while feeding would be handled by county-contracted suppliers.
Nassir emphasised the broader social benefits, noting that preventive education through feeding programmes is far more cost-effective than rehabilitating youth involved in crime.
Local MPs, including Mvita MP Mohamed Machele and Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi, urged the revival of tuition centres and youth employment programmes to keep students engaged during school holidays.
Indonesian Ambassador Witjaksono Adji commended the initiative, highlighting education’s role in nation-building, skill development, and character formation among young people.
