Kenya Targets 10 Million Learners in School Meals Programme by 2030
Duale said the national programme currently provides meals to about 2.6 million learners, with the government working towards universal coverage over the next four years.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale represents President William Ruto at a high-level summit on child survival and nutrition hosted by King Letsie III of Lesotho on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24, 2026. Photo: The Star Kenya
By Robert Mutasi
Kenya plans to expand its school meals programme to reach 10 million learners by 2030 as the government steps up efforts to tackle child malnutrition and improve access to essential services.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the target while representing President William Ruto at a high-level summit on child survival and nutrition convened by King Letsie III of Lesotho on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Duale said the national programme currently provides meals to about 2.6 million learners, with the government working towards universal coverage over the next four years.
“We are scaling school meals from 2.6 million to 10 million learners by 2030, while strengthening investment in the first 1,000 days, nurturing care, early childhood development and social protection,” Duale said.
The expansion is part of a broader government strategy aimed at reducing child malnutrition and improving child survival. Duale said Kenya had made progress in reducing child mortality and stunting, although poverty, climate pressures and regional inequalities continue to affect children’s access to adequate nutrition and healthcare.
According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, the under-five mortality rate stood at 41 deaths per 1,000 live births, down from 115 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2003. The survey also found that 18 per cent of children under five were stunted, while 5 per cent were affected by wasting.
Duale said the government is taking a prevention-first approach through primary healthcare, supported by 107,000 Community Health Promoters. It is also investing in climate-resilient agriculture and expanding school feeding as part of efforts to address the causes of malnutrition.
The school meals programme has expanded significantly over the years. The Ministry of Education said in March 2025 that the number of beneficiaries had increased from about 240,000 to 2.6 million learners. The programme covers children in arid and semi-arid areas, selected urban informal settlements, special needs schools and refugee schools.
The government is also shifting towards a home-grown school meals model, where food supplied to schools is sourced from local farmers. The Ministry of Education has said an aggregator model is being piloted in two counties to connect school feeding with smallholder agricultural production.
The model is intended to link nutrition programmes with local food production while creating markets for farmers. The government has also highlighted the use of climate-friendly foods and clean cooking technologies in schools as part of the wider school meals expansion.
The planned increase from 2.6 million to 10 million learners represents an expansion of more than threefold. The government has previously outlined an operational plan covering the 2024-2030 period to guide the scale-up of the programme.
Despite the progress recorded in child health, malnutrition remains a concern. UNICEF reports that child poverty continues to affect access to healthcare, education and nutrition, particularly in rural and arid and semi-arid areas.
Duale said Kenya is also seeking sustained financing for maternal and child health, stronger national health systems and climate-resilient food systems.
“Our measure of success must ultimately be whether every child, particularly those in vulnerable households, has the opportunity to survive, thrive and reach their full potential,” he said.
The government now faces the task of financing and implementing the planned expansion while maintaining the nutritional quality and reliability of meals provided to learners.
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