MP launches “Egg Monday” programme to be rolled out in all public primary schools.
Thika Town MP Eng. Patrick Wainaina having fun with Kenyatta Primary School pupils as they enjoyed eating some eggs during the launch of the "Egg Monday" Programme. |
Thika Town MP Eng. Patrick Wainaina has begun a programme to
feed all public primary school learners with an egg each beginning next term.
Dubbed “Egg Monday”, the programme is part
of the MP’s 2017 campaign pledges aimed at not only boosting the pupils’ nutrition,
but also economically empowering their parents since these eggs will be supplied
by the parents from chicken reared locally, every Monday of the week.
Speaking during the launch at Kenyatta Primary School on
Friday, Wainaina noted that the programme will help attract children in difficult
environments to access school and is an effective strategy of ensuring
retention of pupils in schools and improving on performance in national exams.
“All pupils within Thika will be eating an egg each every
Monday supplied to school by their own parents. This is aimed at improving
school enrolment as well as adding some nutritional value to the learners in
school,” said the MP.
Wainaina noted that the programme will help attract children
in difficult environments to access school and remain there to get an
education.
More than 21,000 children will benefit from the programme once
it is rolled out to all the 32 public primary schools within the constituency.
“The programme integrates
the nutritional and commercial approach due to its emphasis on supply and value chain management.
As much as I am committed to fighting malnutrition and improving health status
of school children, I am also aiming to support my constituents through
creating a ready market for their eggs,” he said.
The legislator reiterated his commitment to providing the
infrastructure and logistical needs of educational institutions to enhance
academic work.
He appealed to Thika residents to group themselves in
clusters and take advantage of opportunities such as this one for this was the
only way they would be guaranteed of fast economic empowerment.
“With these groups, we will be able to generate
income and business opportunities through creating synergies and smart
networks
School Headteacher Francis Chege Wanyoike acknowledged the
importance of the programme saying that it would go a long way in curbing
truancy in schools as it had been designed to encourage attendance and
retention of pupils in school.
“If a child absents themselves from school without any
apparent reason, they will be denied their share of an egg on that following Monday.
This way, every child will ensure they report to school daily so as to avoid
such a punishment. As a result, the education standards in our schools will
improve,” said Mr. Chege.
Chege also appreciated that by parents being the sole
suppliers of these eggs, this help them to be able to provide the very basic
needs to their children which has not been the case.
“So many parents have been facing challenges in providing
basic needs such as food and uniforms to their children. If they are empowered,
they will be in a position to do so and also assist the schools in some of the development
projects,” he said.
Jungle Women Empowerment Group (JWE) was the first
beneficiaries of the programme having provided the 2,464 eggs that were
supplied to Kenyatta Primary School during the launch.
“We appreciate this programme as it has guaranteed us some
steady income through the provision of a ready market in schools. This will
improve our standards of living,” said Rachael Wanjiku (Shebesh), a member of JWE.
Her colleague, Jane Murimi, challenged men and women in Thika
to take full advantage of this opportunity to form self-help groups as the
demand for the eggs will be so high upon the rolling out of the programme.
“No one can afford to be left behind in this programme. Other
than selling eggs to schools, there will be numerous other opportunities to
those who will be in groups,” said Ms. Murimi.
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