Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi has openly criticized the National Treasury’s decision to scrap the KSh 4.9 billion budget allocated to the school feeding program.
This decision, outlined in the proposed budget estimates for the 2024/2025 financial year, will adversely affect approximately 4.5 million students who depend on the program for their daily meals.
Speaking at the 37th birthday celebration of the Nairobi Yearly Meeting of Friends Church on Ngong Road, where he was the guest of honour, Wanyonyi emphasized the critical role the school feeding program plays in addressing food insecurity among school children.
He expressed deep concern over the potential impact of the Treasury’s withdrawal of funds.
“The removal of the school feeding program from the budget is a move that will cause immense harm to a generation. In some areas, children attend school because of the food provided; it can be their only meal for the day,” Wanyonyi stated.
The school feeding program had initially received a KSh 4.9 billion allocation for the current financial year. The Ministry of Education had sought an additional KSh 1 billion in the supplementary budget to bolster this vital initiative.
However, the recent budget proposal for 2024/2025 sees the complete withdrawal of these funds, placing the future of millions of children in jeopardy.
Hon. Wanyonyi underscored the importance of the program, not only for nutritional support but also for encouraging school attendance and improving educational outcomes.
“As members of parliament, we will ensure the school feeding program remains in the budget,” he pledged. “In fact, we can reject the entire budget if necessary because without it, many functions of the government cannot operate.”
Wanyonyi’s remarks highlighted the broader issues of economic challenges and governance in Kenya.
He criticized the government’s taxation policies and the mismanagement of collected taxes.
“The problem is that even the taxes collected are not made good use of by the government. There is a lot of wastage, with officials moving in a fleet of cars when one would suffice,” he pointed out.
Addressing the economic crisis, Wanyonyi encouraged Kenyans to speak out against oppressive measures and called for accountability among leaders.
He used the platform to urge prayers for Kenyan leaders, hoping they would prioritize the welfare of citizens over self-interest.
As the debate over the budget continues, the fate of the school feeding program remains uncertain.
