Kenya's First Lady Rachael Ruto Speaking to pupils of Unoa Comprehensive Shcool during her visit today. Photo Courtesy. 
By Andrew Mbuva
Unoa Comprehensive Primary School in Makueni has been selected as one of the pilot institutions for a nationwide school kitchen garden programme spearheaded by Kenya’s First Lady, Mama Rachel Ruto.
Speaking during the launch of a borehole drilling project at the school on Wednesday, the First Lady reaffirmed her commitment to improving school nutrition and food security, saying the initiative would complement ongoing government efforts in the education and agricultural sectors.
"Unoa will be among the first schools in the country to pioneer our kitchen garden project. This programme is close to my heart because it not only promotes food security but also ensures our children receive balanced diets rich in carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins,” said Mama Rachel Ruto.
She revealed that her office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Water, had already initiated similar borehole projects in other parts of the country to support the rollout of school kitchen gardens.
“After I made my promise to this school during the Day of the African Child celebrations, I met with the Principal Secretary for Water, Dr. Kipronoh Korir, and he assured me this was possible. The government has already drilled boreholes in many other schools, and now we’re following up to ensure kitchen gardens are established in each of them,” she said.
The First Lady expressed optimism that by the time schools reopen for the third term, pupils at Unoa will have access to clean water, noting that both the school and surrounding community would benefit from the borehole.
She also announced plans to support the school with clean energy solutions, citing her recent appointment as the national champion for clean energy.
“I noticed your kitchen still uses firewood. The smoke is not only harmful to the environment but poses health risks, especially respiratory issues for our mothers and cooks. We will explore ways to bring clean cooking technology to this school,” she said.
Makueni County First Lady Anita Mutula echoed the support, saying the County Government had already invested in water storage tanks and committed to installing solar panels at the school to reduce power costs.
“We are also requesting the project implementation team to engage local labour. This will ensure the community has a sense of ownership and participation,” said Mrs. Mutula.
The borehole project at Unoa Primary was a pledge made by the First Lady during the commemoration of the Day of the African Child held at the school on June 16, 2024.
The broader kitchen garden initiative aims to first target primary schools before expanding to secondary schools across various counties. According to Mama Rachel Ruto, the project will reinforce the Ministry of Agriculture’s efforts to achieve national food security while instilling sustainable farming practices among young learners.
“This is how we secure the future. By taking care of our children today, we are taking care of Kenya tomorrow,” she concluded.
