Governor Barasa to Share Kakamega’s ECDE School Feeding Success at Devolution Conference 2025

Kakamega Governor H.E FCPA Fernandes Barasa is set to take centre stage at the Devolution Conference 2025 during a key Food4Education (F4E) Side Event that will spotlight school feeding as a driver of county development, equity, and economic transformation.

Themed “Nourishing Kenya’s Future: School Feeding as a Catalyst for County Development, Equity, and Economic Empowerment,” the event is scheduled for 14 August 2025, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Homabay High School. It will feature top county leaders, education experts, and development partners exploring sustainable models for scaling up school meals across the country.

Governor Barasa was specially invited as one of only four governors in Kenya who have successfully rolled out school feeding programmes targeting learners in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres. His administration’s commitment to child nutrition and inclusive education has earned national recognition, positioning Kakamega as a model county in this transformative agenda.

Currently, the ECDE school feeding initiative is being piloted within Kakamega Municipality, where hundreds of young learners now benefit from daily nutritious meals prepared under hygienic, child friendly conditions. This intervention has already led to a marked improvement in attendance, concentration, and learner retention.

Plans are underway to scale the programme across Matunda, Butere, Malava, and Mumias Municipalities, and eventually to rural ECDE centres throughout Kakamega County. The initiative is implemented in collaboration with Food4Education (F4E) and other strategic partners to ensure nutritional standards, community ownership, and sustainability.

Other panelists expected at the event include:

H.E Dr. Irungu Kang’ata, Governor, Murang’a County

H.E Abdulswamad Nassir, Governor, Mombasa County

H.E Cecily Mbarire, Governor, Embu County

Shalom M. Ndiku, Director of Public Affairs, F4E

The discussion will be moderated by Georgie Ndirangu, a renowned journalist and development communicator.

This side event is being held under the umbrella of the Council of Governors which continues to promote devolution as a platform for delivering grassroots development and improving public service delivery across all 47 counties.

With food security, education, and healthcare forming the core of his second term agenda, Governor Barasa’s participation in this session is not only timely but also a reaffirmation of Kakamega’s leadership in leveraging devolution to build resilient, empowered communities starting with its youngest citizens.