Factors Affecting Implementation of School Feeding Programme in Public Primary Schools in Kenya: A Survey of Emuhaya Sub-County, Kenya

School feeding programmes have been implemented in many counties over several decades in an attempt to improve health, educational performance and attendance of school age children. The purpose of the study was to assess factors affecting the implementation of School Feeding Programmes in public primary schools in Kenya a survey of Emuhaya Sub-County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were to establish the extent to which the community participation needs assessment within the Community, financial management, policy and regulatory framework affects the implementation of School Feeding Programme in Emuhaya Sub-County, Kenya. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The target population was 202 respondents comprising of 101 heads of school and 101 Board of Managers (BOM) chairpersons. Purposive sampling method was used to select the Head teachers and BOM chairperson from the sampled schools. The sample size was 80 respondents comprising of 40 head teachers and 40 School Board of managers. The main data collection tool for this study was structured questionnaires for the heads of schools and schools BOM chairpersons. Piloting was done in 2 public primary schools from the neighbouring sub-county. It comprised of 2 head teachers and 2 BOM chairpersons to assess the validity and reliability of the research instrument. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 was used to analyze the quantitative data. The study also used Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to test the level of significant of the variables on the dependent variable at 95 % level of significance. In addition, the study conducted a multiple regression analysis. The study established that needs assessment, community participation, financial management, policy and regulatory framework had a positive and significant effect in SFP implementation in public primary schools in Emuhaya Sub-County, Kenya as indicated by beta values. The relationships (p less than 0.05) are all significant with needs assessment (t = 8.451, p less than 0.05), community participation (t = 3.638, p less than 0.05), financial management (t = 2.649, p less than 0.05) and policy and regulatory framework (t = 4.521, p less than 0.05). The study concluded that Community participation enhances the implementation of school feeding programme to a greater extent. Public primary schools that depend on the community to organize and implement SFPs offer certain advantages. Needs Assessment of SFP programme in public primary schools should be carried out to establish the needs for a particular for the programmes by systematically examining stakeholders interest and knowledge, agency mission, authorities and capability, and its significance of particular environmental conditions or issues. Financial management is an important component of project design. When designing a project, the schools must make a realistic assessment of both the fiscal requirements and the probable availability of funding. Clear policies and regulatory framework on school feeding programmes ensure the sound implementation of school feeding programme in public primary schools. The study recommends that Schools are the destination and feeding centers. They are supposed to mobilize the community to contribute to school feeding programmes. Schools should conduct needs assessment to establish how community leaders, teachers, local government entities or voluntary organizations can participate in identifying the poorest households, though this requires clear criteria that are transparent and not based on political favoritism. The government should instate SFP policies that work toward achievable goals. The school management committee should support the feeding programme in schools by starting income-generating activities to raise funds to supplement the funds issued by the government towards the school feeding programme.