Wamuzi News Ke
The government has suspended relief food programmes in 17 schools across Ganze Sub-county, Kilifi County, after shocking revelations that pupils were being forced to recite Hindu prayers before receiving meals.
A viral video circulating online showed school children lining up for food and being compelled to chant Hindu prayers, in some cases under the guidance of head teachers. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with parents, education officials, and human rights groups condemning it as a violation of both children’s rights and Kenya’s constitutional principle of religious freedom.
County Commissioner Josephat Kibiwott announced the immediate suspension of the feeding initiative, stating that while the government appreciates well-intentioned efforts to support vulnerable learners, such programmes must never be tied to religious coercion. He emphasized that children should never be subjected to practices that compromise their faith or dignity in order to access basic necessities such as food.
The suspension affects 16 primary schools and one secondary school that were part of the initiative. For many pupils, the meals provided through this programme had become a lifeline, particularly in drought-stricken areas where families face severe food shortages. The abrupt halt has now raised concerns over the welfare of hundreds of learners who relied on the meals for their daily sustenance.
Education officials have confiscated religious materials that had been distributed in some of the affected schools as investigations get underway. Authorities are also probing how the religious practices were introduced into the programme, which had been operating without controversy since 2019.
Civil society groups have strongly criticized the development, calling it a dangerous precedent that could undermine trust in school feeding programmes across the country. They argue that forcing children to choose between hunger and reciting prayers from a religion not their own amounts to exploitation and abuse.
The government has pledged a thorough investigation and assured the public that disciplinary measures will be taken against school administrators and organizations found responsible. The future of the feeding initiative remains uncertain as authorities weigh the protection of children’s rights against the urgent need to provide food support in the county.
This incident has ignited a national debate on the oversight of donor-led programmes in schools, with education stakeholders now pushing for stricter monitoring to ensure that vulnerable children are never again placed in such a compromising situation.
