Thousands of learners in Kenya's arid and semi-arid areas are at risk of dropping out of school due to a severe funding shortfall in the school feeding programme.

• A Sh6.6 billion gap exists in the school feeding programme, with an annual requirement of Sh8.3 billion versus an allocation of only Sh1.7 billion.
• The National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK), led by its Chief Executive Officer Harun Yussuf, is facing these challenges.
• The programme faces additional hurdles in infrastructure development, particularly the construction of modern school kitchens, and has experienced irregular fund disbursements delaying food supplies.

Tens of thousands of students in Kenya's arid north are at risk of dropping out due to a severe budget cut for the school feeding programme.

• The National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK) requires Ksh8.3 billion annually but has only received Ksh1.7 billion, leaving a shortfall of Ksh6.6 billion.
• NACONEK Chief Executive Officer Harun Yussuf warned Parliament that the reduced funding jeopardizes the programme, which is the primary incentive for many students to attend school.
• The crisis underscores the vulnerability of students in marginalized communities, where poverty and long distances to school make daily meals essential for attendance, and highlights NACONEK's inability to even construct school kitchens.

The Ministry of Education has ordered legal action against all unregistered and unlicensed trainers in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges nationwide.

• The directive, issued by Education Principal Secretary Esther Muoria on Wednesday, April 1, requires trainers to be registered and licensed by the TVET Authority (TVETA), as stipulated by the TVET Act of 2015.
• PS Esther Muoria instructed heads of vocational training colleges to initiate legal action against non-compliant trainers by June 30, 2026.
• Principals are also required to submit a list of unregistered trainers by April 30, 2026, as part of a broader effort to improve the quality of vocational education in Kenya.