Kenya's school meal expansion falls short on nutrition despite growth

Kenya's school-meal programmes have expanded rapidly in recent years. The number of children receiving meals rose from 66 million in 2022 to 87 million in 2024. Yet, despite this growth, concerns remain about the nutritional quality of the food provided.

Currently, around 12,000 of Kenya's 30,000 primary schools offer meal programmes, mainly through the National School Meals Programme. By 2025, this is set to extend to over 15,000 schools. However, many meals still lack dietary diversity, with repetitive menus failing to meet children's nutritional needs.

Other African countries have shown how local sourcing can improve both nutrition and community support. In Ghana, the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme has worked with smallholder farmers since 2005 to supply nutrient-rich foods like cassava, sweet potatoes, and vegetables. This initiative now reaches 2.5 million students.

Rwanda's One Cow per School programme encourages micro-enterprises to provide milk products, while Malawi's School Feeding with Local Procurement approach connects over 1,000 small farmers with schools, delivering organic produce. These models ensure fresher meals while boosting local incomes.

Experts suggest Kenya could adopt similar strategies by setting minimum local procurement rules. Prioritising nutrient-dense foods—such as vegetables, legumes, and dairy—would enhance meal quality and support nearby farmers.

Expanding school meals alone is not enough to combat malnutrition. Kenya's next steps could include stronger local sourcing policies to diversify menus and improve children's diets. Such changes would also create economic opportunities for small-scale farmers across the country.