http://ir.mksu.ac.ke/handle/123456780/60 2026-04-24T12:33:13Z 2026-04-24T12:33:13Z Muriungi, Pamella Karambu Mbijiwe, Jane Koech, Peter Kibet M’Rithaa, Mugendi Kanampiu http://ir.mksu.ac.ke/handle/123456780/21031 2026-04-07T14:12:33Z 2025-04-01T00:00:00Z

School feeding programmes and their effect on enrolment and retention in public primary schools in Tharaka-Nithi County Muriungi, Pamella Karambu; Mbijiwe, Jane; Koech, Peter Kibet; M’Rithaa, Mugendi Kanampiu Access to universal primary education is a key priority for many countries trying to achieve the millennium development goals. Education is a fundamental right for every person due to its contribution to equity. Kenya has not been left behind. Her Vision 2030 overall goal is to provide a global competitive quality education, reduce illiteracy, improve transition rates from primary to secondary schools and raise the quality and relevance of education. This dream can only be realized if learners from marginalized communities especially in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands accessed and got retained in schools. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of School Feeding Programme on enrolment and retention of learners in public primary schools in Tharaka-Nithi county in Kenya. The study adopted mixed methods approach and gathered both qualitative and quantitative data. The multi-stage study made use of varied data collection tools including questionnaires, interview schedules, focus group discussions and school records. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics while qualitative data was organized into themes. The target population for this study was the County Director of Education, school management board members, headteachers, teachers and parents of Grade six pupils in public primary schools. The study established that school feeding program influenced the enrolment of pupils in primary school in Tharaka Nithi county. The study also established that the school feeding programme influenced the retention of pupils in schools in the county. The study established that school feeding programmes enhanced the participation of the pupils in class as their participation was described as lively. The study therefore concluded that school feeding program influenced the enrolment of pupils in primary school; the retention of pupils in schools and enhanced active participation of the pupils in class as hunger was the number one reason for dropout. The study recommended that the government should increase the coverage of the areas under school feeding programme especially the regions prone to drought with the view to improving the enrolment rates; the government should ensure there is a constant supply of school meal so as to retain the pupils in school. attend school regularly; the government and the donors should ensure the school meal has the right nutrients so as to keep the children alert in class to actively participate in the learning process.

2025-04-01T00:00:00Z Mbijiwe, Jane Muriungi, Pamella Karambu Koech, Peter Kibet M’Rithaa, Mugendi Kanampiu http://ir.mksu.ac.ke/handle/123456780/21030 2026-04-07T14:07:36Z 2025-07-01T00:00:00Z

Teachers' Perception and Contribution of School Meals to Nutrient Intake of Kenyan Children in Relation to Recommended Dietary Requirements Mbijiwe, Jane; Muriungi, Pamella Karambu; Koech, Peter Kibet; M’Rithaa, Mugendi Kanampiu Background:Information on thecomposition of school meals and their contribution to the nutritional needs of children isscarce. Although teachers are pivotal in the school meals provision process,their perceptions have been ignored.Methods:A cross-sectionalstudy was conducted among 70 school teachers and 200 pupils from 11 public schools. Data collection toolsincluded:a pretested study questionnaire, interview guide, food diary, analysis of school records and observation checklists.Results: Over 77% of school teachersperceived the portion of school meals served to children to be inadequate, 98.6% were of the view that meals lacked dietary diversity,while 95.7%reported meals were not well balanced.These findingshighlightteachers’ contextual awareness ofpoormeal quality;nevertheless,this could be leveraged in having them as advocates for enhanced school meals.About 84.3%of teachersindicatedprovision of school meals was irregular, implyingthat theirfull potential to alleviate short-termhunger, improve attention spans and learning capabilities was not being fully utilised. Meals consisted only two food groups 130 grams of maize (cereals) and 20 grams of beans (legumes), and were low in micronutrients providing only 8.8% of calcium, 22.2% of iron, 17.7% of zinc,while completely lacking in vitamin A and Vitamin C.Need to explore strategies to include more food groups in school meals to enhance dietary diversity and micronutrient adequacies. Current school meals provided 5.8 grams of protein,which was only 76.7% of the daily requirements and did not meet the recommended nutrient needs for energy and carbohydrates, implying children were at increased risk of nutritional deficiencies.Evidenced by findings that 24.0% of the children werestunted.Conclusion:This study highlights theneed to improvethe qualityof school meals,particularly with regard to dietary diversity and nutrient adequacy for protein, carbohydrates, vitamin A, Vitamin C, calcium, iron and zinc.Establishing school gardensand supporting them technically and financially,especially in livestock rearing and the production of fruits and vegetables,could enhance food variety, thereby improving dietary diversity and micronutrient intake of school-goingchildren in Kenya.

2025-07-01T00:00:00Z Muriungi, Pamella Karambu Mbijiwe, Jane Koech, Peter Kibet M’Rithaa, Mugendi http://ir.mksu.ac.ke/handle/123456780/21029 2026-04-07T13:56:40Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Stakeholders’ perceptions on school feeding programmes’ influence on attendance and dropout rates in Tharaka-Nithi County. African Journal of Education and Practice Muriungi, Pamella Karambu; Mbijiwe, Jane; Koech, Peter Kibet; M’Rithaa, Mugendi urpose: The purpose of this study was to assess stakeholder’s perceptions on the influence of school feeding programmes on pupil’s attendance and dropout rates in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. Methodology: The study adopted a mixed methods approach. The target population for this study was Tharaka Nithi County Education Officials, Headteachers, teachers, and parents of Grade three pupils in public schools. The data collection instruments included: questionnaires, interview guide, observation checklist and focus group discussion guide. Data were analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) Version 27. Quantitative data were analysed and presented in the form of frequencies and percentages. The qualitative data were presented in a narrative form in themes. Findings: The study established that stakeholders perceived that: school feeding programs significantly boosted pupils' class attendance; reduced absenteeism; and improved concentration and academic performance, while encouraging consistent school attendance. The schools’ feeding programs significantly reduced pupils dropout rates, and also enhanced academic performance. It was concluded that school feeding programs was perceived to significantly improve pupil attendance and reduced dropout rates. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study was anchored on Abrahams Maslow's Hierarchy Theory of Human Motivation. There is need for the County Government and National Governments and NGOS to increase the school feeding programmes in ASAL schools. Vulnerable children in ASAL areas should be given special attention in school feeding programmes. School stakeholders should support the availability of feeding programmes in all the ASAL schools.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Ndunda, Tiffany Ndanu Mulwa, David M. Muriungi, Pamella Karambu http://ir.mksu.ac.ke/handle/123456780/21028 2026-04-07T13:51:41Z 2025-08-01T00:00:00Z

Effect of Human Resource Management Practices on Students’ Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools in Machakos Sub-County, Machakos County, Kenya Ndunda, Tiffany Ndanu; Mulwa, David M.; Muriungi, Pamella Karambu The interest in school leadership is based on the belief it can significantly influence directly or indirectly, the teaching and quality of learning in schools, and as a result student achievement. This study sought to establish the effect of human resource management practices on students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in Machakos Sub-County, Machakos County, Kenya. The study was based on the human capital theory. A descriptive research design was used for this study. The target population for this study were 48 principals and 400 teachers totalling 448 respondents from which a sample of 15 principals and 120 teachers were chosen using simple random sampling. Questionnaires were used to collect data from the respondents. Validity was established through expert judgment. The research used Cronbach's alpha formula to test reliability. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.9641 was realized indicating the consistency of research instruments. Data collected were coded and analysed with the help of the Stata analysis package. Descriptive statistics in the form of mean and standard deviation were used to display the data. Inferential statistics specifically regression analysis was used to show the relationship and strength of the relationships among study variables respectively. The study found that human resource management practices had a positive and statistically significant effect on students’ academic performance. Based on the findings, the study recommends that in the aspect of human resource management practices, there is a need for the principal to recognize teachers who have contributed positively to improving the quality of education; principals ought to devise other ways of curriculum implementation practices which motivates the teachers and the students other than monitoring the classroom attendance of the teachers, regular internal assessments in the school, or even emphasizing covering the syllabus on time.

2025-08-01T00:00:00Z