17 schools in the drought-prone Ganze in Kilifi County, have lost their feeding programme after videos showed pupils being made to chant Hindu prayers before receiving meals.
The clips captured hundreds of children reciting the words, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.”
In some cases, teachers stood with the students and guided the chants. In others, the prayers were done in separate spaces away from the classrooms.
According to the teachers, the children were told they had to learn and recite the prayer to show their gratitude to God and to the donor who provided the food.
This rule only began in the third term of this year. The programme itself has been running since 2019 without such a condition.
But in August, during the holiday, teachers from the affected schools, 16 primary and one secondary, were called to Mombasa. And instructed on the new Hindu prayer system before meals started.
Kilifi County Commissioner Josephat Kibiwott said the government had reviewed the videos and decided to stop the programme immediately. He explained that help should never come with conditions that force children into practices that are not right for them. Religious items found in the schools were also taken away by authorities as investigations continue.
The suspension has left many worried. Ganze is a drought-hit area, and many pupils depend on the school meals to get through the day.
The government has said it is working on other arrangements to ensure the children continue receiving food while the probe goes on.
By Vivian K.