Schools along the border of West Pokot and Turkana Counties have benefited from relief food worth Kshs 1.5 million donated by the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen). The move is set to address the issue of hunger after a severe drought hit the area a few months ago. The company donated 90 bags of maize and 60 bags of beans to Riting, Lorogon,Sarimach, Lonyangalem and Turkwel Gorge and George Primary schools that are affected by a lack of food.
More than 2500 learners from the schools in the volatile region will benefit from the ration as drought ravages the semi-arid region. Speaking after giving out the donation, KenGen Western Kenya Hydros manager Frank Konuche said that the company will make sure that learners in schools neighbouring Turkwel power plant won’t drop out of school.
“We felt it was vital to bring you a little token that will help to keep pupils in schools especially during this period when the rain season hasn’t prevailed,” he said, “We’ve remembered the welfare of pupils and students because even the enrollment has gone down tremendously,” he said.
Mr Konuche said that the company offers scholarships to two learners every year in the Turkwel region to join secondary schools and universities, adding that they’re engaged in the corporate social responsibility of building classrooms and dormitories. He added that the recently experienced drought led to a low water level in the power plant, thus affecting electricity generation at the Turkwel plant. Kostei sub location assistant chief Joseph Siwa lauded KenGen company for donating the food.
