The Council of Governors (CoG) has announced that it is in the final stages of approving a national Model Policy on Pre-Primary School Feeding program, with the official launch set for the upcoming Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County scheduled for August 12–16, 2025.
CoG Chairperson Governor Ahmed Abdullahi said that the proposed policy was the result of a collaborative effort involving County Governments, the Senate, the National Government, and partners such as Food for Education (F4E).
The policy seeks to establish a harmonized, sustainable, and scalable school feeding framework for Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres across the country.
"This policy is intended to improve child nutrition, boost school attendance, and promote inclusive development across all regions. It is a critical step in strengthening our ECDE agenda," Governor Abdullahi said.The Council urged all County Governments to domesticate the policy, noting that the framework would be instrumental in ensuring equitable access to early learning services while addressing long-standing nutrition gaps among pre-primary school children.
Pushback on Auditor General’s Performance Audit
Alongside the policy update, the Council of Governors raised serious concerns over a planned performance audit by the Office of the Auditor General targeting the provision of bursaries, scholarships, and ECDE services in selected counties.
The Council reiterated its strong objection to the audit exercise, citing procedural and legal concerns. According to the governors, the audit violates constitutional timelines and lacks proper consultation.
"The performance audit, as currently structured, is being undertaken outside the timeframes prescribed by Article 229 of the Constitution and the Public Audit Act. Furthermore, the process was conceptualized without any engagement with the Council or the affected County Governments,” the statement read.Governor Abdullahi noted that the counties in question have already been audited for the relevant financial years, warning that the new audit risks being duplicative and prejudicial.
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The Council also questioned the transparency of the process, highlighting the lack of clarity in the selection criteria used to identify counties under review.
"The Office of the Auditor General must conduct its work in accordance with the Constitution and the law. Any audit initiated outside the prescribed legal framework is irregular, unconstitutional, and therefore null and void," the Council warned.Despite its opposition to the current audit, the Council reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability in public service. It welcomed lawful audit processes conducted within legal boundaries and with respect for the devolved structure of government.
"We remain committed to responsible governance and are open to constructive, lawful audits that respect the principles of devolution and institutional collaboration," the Council said.
