NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 22 – A new fundraising push by Food for Education is aiming to close critical gaps in Kenya’s school feeding landscape, where millions of children face hunger that undermines their learning.
The organization, which currently feeds more than 600,000 children daily across 13 counties, is using a Sh6,685 golf fundraiser to mobilize extra resources to feed 6,685 children for a full school year.
“We’re here to celebrate the 6,685-golf tournament that is raising money to feed 6,685 children,” said Wawira Njiru, Founder and CEO of Food for Education.
“We want them to be well-nourished, able to stay in school, and to fulfil their potential. Every child deserves that chance.”
Kenya continues to grapple with severe nutrition challenges among children.
Nationwide, nearly 900,000 children aged 6–59 months require assistance with acute malnutrition and food security, according to World Vision.
Njiru highlighted the scale of the challenge, noting that of Kenya’s more than 10 million learners, only a fraction is guaranteed a daily nutritious meal.
“We feed 600,000 kids now, but the need is enormous,” she said.
“If we reach more donors, we reach more children. KSh 6,685 can feed a child for an entire year.”
For Stanley Njoroge, CFO of Food for Education, the fundraiser underscores a strategic approach to aligning resources with long-term targets.
“We’ve set a target to expand to one million children within the next 18 months,” he said.
“That’s part of a longer journey to catalyze other players so we can have an ecosystem of school feeding organizations in Kenya and beyond.”
Njoroge explained the programme’s cost model, which aims to provide a nutritious meal at an average cost of Sh35 per day, or roughly Sh6,685 for a school year of about 190 days.
“Partnerships with government, philanthropy and communities will be central to sustaining this,” he said, adding that diversified funding is critical for long-term growth.
The golf event seen as a platform to increase awareness and fundraising drew support from enthusiasts and corporate partners.
Steve Okello, a passionate golfer involved in the event, said he became engaged after realizing how little visibility Food for Education had.
“Golf can provide visibility and help raise funds,” he said. “Many golfers want to drive positive social change, and this event connects sport with impact.”
Okello added that the tournament is just a first step. “This is the beginning of a series of efforts to bring attention to the work they’re doing,” he said. “If we can scale this year after year, the impact multiplies.”
Despite substantial progress in scaling school feeding efforts, hunger remains a major challenge.
Experts argue that school feeding programmes alongside government investment are critical in keeping children in class, improving attendance and performance, and cushioning families against economic stress.
Food For Education currently operates in 13 counties including urban and rural areas where child nutrition gaps are acute.
