Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has appealed to the national government to release Ksh2 billion to sustain and expand the city’s school feeding initiative, Dishi na County, which currently supports over 316,000 pupils.
Appearing before the Senate Education Committee, Sakaja revealed that despite a prior agreement, the Ministry of Education has yet to remit its share of funds meant to co-finance the program through the school feeding fund managed at Jogoo House.
“There was an undertaking that the Ministry would match a shilling for every shilling we spend. We have already invoiced the national government Ksh2 billion, but they have not given us the money,” he said.
The Dishi na County initiative provides daily meals to learners in Nairobi’s public primary and ECDE schools at a subsidized cost of Ksh5 per meal. About one in ten children eat for free because their families cannot afford the contribution.
Sakaja affirmed that no child would be denied food due to lack of payment. “We have instructed our officers not to turn away any child who lacks the Ksh5. The county is covering the cost for them,” he stated.
Plans are underway to extend the programme to informal schools by mapping nearby public institutions where children can access meals during lunchtime. Currently, 17 central kitchens serve learners in 230 public schools across the county.
“To include all informal schools, we would require 69 additional kitchens,” Sakaja said, noting that budget constraints remain a major hurdle.
The governor also raised concern over inadequate school infrastructure in the capital, saying Nairobi’s 210 public schools cannot meet the needs of a population exceeding seven million.
“Our school infrastructure is far from adequate. Land for new schools is scarce and expensive. The county is building 1,500 ECDE classrooms while the national government is adding 5,000 more to bridge the gap,” Sakaja told senators.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring every child in Nairobi regardless of background benefits from the feeding program. “If it were up to me, every single child in Nairobi would be part of Dishi na County, including those in informal schools,” he said.
The governor urged the Ministry of Education to prioritize Nairobi in funding allocations, warning that without additional resources, the sustainability of Dishi na County remains uncertain.
