County, New KCC partner to boost nutrition for pre primary learners

RENNISH OKONG’O-KNA

Young learners in Early Child hood Development Education (ECDE) centres in Elgeyo Marak wet County will receive free milk under a proposed partnership between the County Government and the New Kenya Co-opera tive Creameries (New KCC).

The initiative, which targets Early Childhood Development Educa tion (ECDE) learners, is aimed at improving child nutrition, boost school enrolment, and enhance retention rates across the county.

Speaking during a courtesy call at Governor Wisley Rotich in Iten, New KCC Managing Director Joseph Choge under scored the importance of the collaboration, noting that the county has been a key supplier of milk to KCC milk processing plant in Eldoret.

“We have had milk from this county that has sustained our milk factory in Eldoret, and we have now come here to explore how to collaborate with the County Government in the school feeding programme,” said Choge.

He emphasized the nutritional value of milk, adding: “We have to give pre-school children milk for proper nutrition.

This will help them grow into healthy adults.” Choge assured that the programme would be imple mented equitably across the region.

“We will ensure that milk is distributed to children in every corner of the county,” he stated.

Governor Rotich confirmed the county’s commitment to the pro gramme, revealing that discus sions had already been initiated to formalize the partnership.

“We have discussed a possible part nership on delivering milk under our school feeding programme to our ECDE learners,” said the governor.

He noted that the programme is expected to have far reaching socio-economic benefits, includ ing improved health outcomes for children and increased school retention.

In addition to support ing learners, the partnership is also poised to benefit local dairy farmers.

Under the agreement, New KCC will collect milk from county cooling plants for pro cessing, with farmers guaranteed prompt and consistent payments.