Nairobi News

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has revealed plans by his administration to expand the school feeding programme to include the private sector.

Speaking at Baba Dogo Primary School in Ruaraka Constituency on Monday during the official launch of the programme dubbed Dishi Na County, Sakaja said he will bring legislation that will seek to open doors for private schools in Nairobi to benefit from the programme.

“In Nairobi County, we are going to be legislation so that we can create a governance structure around school feeding. We are going to bring the School Lunch Act that will even give us a board so that we can incorporate the private sector,” Sakaja said.

He said school going children in Nairobi must be treated with dignity and respect, even as they attended classes.

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“A first class county cannot have a second class citizen, and that is why I said that we must give our children food,” he said.

The governor said it is disheartening to see a good number of children in Nairobi County failing to attend classes due to hunger that is worse than what is being experienced in Turkana and north-eastern parts of the country.

“Dishi na County is a clear statement. No child again will go to learn on an empty stomach. No child will have to choose between food and education,” he said.

The governor expressed his wish to see all the school going children in the country benefiting from the programme through an act, similar to the National School Lunch Act of 1946 which is being practiced to date.

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“I want us to partner so that I can bring you the version of the bill because I know you’re an average astute legislature so that it is passed in the National Assembly so that even other children in the country become covered,” Sakaja said.

Ruaraka Member of Parliament TJ Kajwang, who attended the function, lauded the governor for the initiative, saying it will benefit many learners in Nairobi county. Mr Kajwang however warned leaders against politicizing the initiative.

A total of 10 modern kitchens have been constructed across the county to help in dealing with a high number of turn out.

The programme is being launched in three phases which is targeting 250,000 school going children in public schools in the county.

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