Kenya Red Cross donates food to hungry Kamuwongo pupils

It was a big relief for about 400 pupils at Kamuwongo Primary School in Mwingi North Sub County when they received food donation from Kenya Red Cross on Monday.

The food donation comprised of 233 pieces of five kilograms-packets of maize flour. The donation also included beans in 18-kilogram bags each weighing 50 kilograms.

A delighted school head Ms Zipporah Kamwaki said the donation also included an additional 32 kilograms of beans.

 She said the Non-Governmental Organization had donated the food in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. She said the food support could not have come at a better time as. Pupils suffered serious pangs of hunger leading to some staying out of school.

"It has come at a time when we are struggling with serious absenteeism. People are facing serious food scarcity. Pupils are sleeping hungry at home and they thus opt to abscond school," said Madam Kamwaki.

She added that a previous program in which parents donated food for their children's lunch collapsed after parents expended all the food in their stores due to prolonged drought.

"Previously parents used to give food which our cook used to prepare lunch. That is not happening any more due to widespread food shortage. Our parents do not have food," she said.

She said the extend of food scarcity was underlined by the fact that when the children learned that food meant for them had been delivered at the nearby Kamuwongo market, they happily dashed there.

"The delighted learners rushed there because they are hungry. They helped us carry the food to the school. We are now preparing porridge which they will take before they leave for home, " said the head teacher.

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT