Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has assured students sitting the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) exams that they will continue to receive meals during the examination period.
The KPSEA exams are set to begin on Monday, October 28 and end on Wednesday, October 30. Rehearsals for exams will be held on Friday, October 25.
The County boss said the closure of the school will not amount to them lacking meals during their examination period.
Through the Department of Health and Nutrition, Sakaja confirmed that meals will be available to support learners during the crucial exam period under the Dishi na County programme.
“The program will serve hot lunches to students from Monday, October 28 to Wednesday, October 30, 2024, ensuring that candidates remain energized and focused throughout the exam period,” Sakaja stated.
County Executive for Health, Wellness, and Nutrition, Suzanne Silantoi said Silantoi noted that the feeding program will ease the burden on parents during this time.
“Most schools are closing this week, but we have put in place plans to make sure that we take care of our learners,” she assured.
The school feeding initiative, which began 14 months ago, has already benefited over 310,000 students in more than 200 schools.
Silantoi further confirmed that the third phase of the program, launched earlier this year, will continue into the new school year.
The Dishi na County Programme ensures that every child in public primary schools and Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in Nairobi receive a hot, nutritionally balanced meal every school day.
The Dishi na County Programme, launched in June 2023, began with the establishment of ten central kitchens, with the first meals served on August 28, 2023.
By January 2024, the second phase had seen an additional ten kitchens operational, catering to 184,000 children from 106 public schools daily. T
The initiative has since expanded, now feeding 310,000 pupils, with numbers expected to rise further in the third term.
"This initiative has significantly reduced dropout rates by ensuring that children receive at least one nutritious meal per day," Sakaja said earlier about the project.
Governor Sakaja also emphasized the program's role in tackling food insecurity among students.
"No child should miss school due to lack of food. One in every four children used to miss school. I am glad that this will soon be a thing of the past."