Forty-nine learners with special needs at Mnarani and Matsangoni Public Comprehensive Schools in Kilifi County will receive improved meal access following a Sh700,000 kitchen upgrade funded by the Rotary Club of Kilifi and 14 partner organizations. The year-long feeding program, which has already provided monthly supplies of rice, beans, and porridge flour to over 300 students, prioritizes learners from low-income households. Of the 300 beneficiaries, 21 attend Mnarani School and 28 attend Matsangoni School, both of which serve students with special needs. The kitchen renovation, underway for four months, includes rebuilding facilities, installing modern cooking equipment, and enhancing school gardens to sustain the initiative.
Rotary Club of Kilifi President Nancy Happiness emphasized that hunger remains a critical barrier to education, particularly for students with special needs. She stated, "A child who has not eaten cannot concentrate, and for our learners with special needs, the meal is often what brings them to school in the first place." The program aims to improve academic focus, attendance, and nutrition by ensuring at least one daily meal for participants. Happiness credited UK-based Rotary Clubs—Midhurst and Petworth, Addiscombe and Shirley, and Chichester Harbour—for financial and logistical support, while highlighting the role of Rangesh Nallan, a member of the Midhurst and Petworth Club, in mobilizing resources and local volunteers, including young road trackers in Kilifi.
Nallan explained the initiative emerged from a prior partnership between his club and Kilifi-based organizations. "Last year, my club and ten others launched the 'Roll-out the Barrel' water initiative here, and President Happiness later shared the need for a feeding program to support learning," he said. The project’s funding, primarily sourced from UK partners, covers the kitchen upgrades and meal distribution. Happiness noted the collaboration has strengthened community ties, with local youth contributing to implementation. The program also addresses nutrition-related health risks by providing balanced meals to vulnerable students.
The overhaul underscores the intersection of education and food security in Kenya’s public schools. By targeting special needs learners, the initiative highlights systemic challenges faced by marginalized groups in accessing consistent nourishment. With the kitchen upgrades nearing completion, the Rotary Club of Kilifi and its partners aim to set a model for sustainable school feeding programs. As Happiness stated, "This effort reflects our commitment to ensuring no child is left behind due to hunger." The project’s success could influence broader policies to support underprivileged students across the region.