Sakaja’s Nairobi School Feeding Program Approved, But Budget Reduced

The Nairobi County Assembly has approved a school feeding program proposed by Governor Johnson Sakaja. The program, known as “Dishi na County,” will provide nutritious meals to primary school children in public schools.

The original budget for the program was Sh1.2 billion for food and an additional Sh500 million for the construction of more kitchens and serving sheds. However, the Finance, Budget and Appropriations Committee reduced the budget by Sh136 million.

The reduced amount has been allocated to various sectors, including Sh20 million for community engagement. The program, which was originally under the Health sector, has also been moved to the Inclusivity, Public Participation and Citizen Engagement sector.

The reason for the change in who will oversee the program has not been made clear. However, the CEC for Inclusivity, Public Participation and Citizen Engagement, Susan Silantoi, has recently been behind the ongoing construction of feeding kitchens.

The feeding program is aimed at 250,000 primary school children in Nairobi. The county government hopes that the program will improve the nutritional status of learners and encourage students to attend school, leading to increased enrolment, performance and progression to higher levels of education.

Governor Sakaja has cited urban poverty among Nairobi residents as the root cause of low enrolment in public schools. He has vowed to put an end to this problem by investing in programs such as the school feeding program.

President William Ruto has praised the governor for the initiative and promised to support it by allocating some funds for the construction of feeding facilities. The President has also hinted at the possibility of extending the program to parts of the country that have hardly been affected by the drought.

The school feeding program is a welcome initiative that has the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of thousands of children in Nairobi. The reduced budget is a disappointment, but it is still a significant investment in the future of the city’s youth.