Sh1.2 billion set aside to feed school children in Nairobi

On June 20, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja broke down in tears in the presence of President William Ruto and other dignitaries in Roysambu Primary School.

This was during the groundbreaking ceremony of kitchens that will be used to prepare food for learners in public schools under a school feeding program dubbed 'Dishi na County.'

Later, Sakaja defended himself for shedding tears in public, saying that he gets emotional whenever he remembers the struggles of some children who go to school while hungry.

While the Governor’s tears elicited heated debate, he can now smile. The school feeding programme was among the biggest winners in the county’s Sh42.3 billion budget for the financial year 2023/2024.

County Executive Committee for Finance Charles Kerich, who delivered the budget, said the school feeding program would encourage students to attend school leading to an increase in enrollment.

“I have allocated Sh1.2 billion in the recurrent budget for Public Primary Schools and ECD centres feeding and Sh500 Million in development for the construction of kitchens and serving sheds,” Kerich stated.

“The programme will improve the nutritional status of the learners and encourage students to attend school leading to an increase in enrollment, performance and transition to higher levels of education,” he explained.

It is estimated that once the program takes off, about 250,000 children in public primary schools and public Early Childhood Development centres will be fed.

The groundbreaking construction of central kitchens has been witnessed in 10 sub-counties.

Last week, some activists faulted the programme, saying City Hall should instead focus on building schools to ease congestion.