The County Government of Uasin Gishu is gearing up to launch an innovative milk program dubbed "Maziwa ni School Fees" aimed at helping dairy farmers pay school fees for their children through milk. The groundbreaking initiative, set to take place at Tuiyo Farmers Cooperative Society (FCS) at the end of this month, is designed to address two key issues in the county: ensuring continuous education for students and strengthening cooperative societies through increased milk production.
The program will allow dairy farmers to contribute milk to cooperative societies, which will then be converted into school fees for their children. This initiative is expected to reduce school dropout rates, ensuring that students can continue their education without disruption due to financial constraints. It will also help boost the local economy through the growth of cooperatives and the dairy industry.
The Maziwa ni School Fees program has already garnered praise from national leaders. Speaking about the initiative, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs, Wycliffe Oparanya, commended Uasin Gishu County for the innovative approach. "Cooperatives have the potential to significantly impact local economies, and I applaud Governor Jonathan Bii for prioritizing the welfare of cooperators. This brilliant program should be emulated by other counties and cooperatives across the country," Oparanya said.
The program also includes various training components for farmers, including financial literacy, quality animal feed production, and other agricultural techniques, aimed at improving the overall productivity of dairy farmers. Already, Tuiyo FCS has enrolled 34 students from 22 schools in the program, with more students expected to benefit as it expands.
Martha Cheruto, the County Executive Committee Member for Trade and Cooperatives, along with Cooperatives Chief Officer Ruth Samoei, were part of the delegation that announced the program. Cheruto emphasized that the Maziwa ni School Fees initiative is a step toward creating economic growth and ensuring that no student has to drop out of school due to the inability to pay fees.
As the program prepares for its official launch, Governor Jonathan Bii's commitment to empowering farmers and providing educational opportunities for children in Uasin Gishu County is evident. The Maziwa ni School Fees initiative marks a major milestone in the county's ongoing efforts to uplift its residents and foster sustainable growth through innovation and collaboration.
