The Nairobi City County Government has reached a major milestone in its
flagship school feeding initiative, Dishi na
County, having served over 50 million meals since the program was launched
two years ago.
The initiative, which currently feeds more than
316,000 learners across 230 public primary schools daily, was introduced to
address hunger among schoolchildren and enhance attendance in public schools.
Governor Johnson Sakaja described the
achievement as a defining moment for his administration, saying the program has
had a transformative impact on education in the capital.
“When we launched Dishi na County, one in four children in Nairobi were going
to school hungry,” Sakaja said.
“Today, that number has dropped significantly. We’ve not only managed to
keep learners in class, but we’ve also seen enrolment double in many schools.”
Sakaja added that providing meals has helped
boost school performance and encouraged consistent attendance, especially in
low-income areas where food insecurity remains a major challenge.
“This program is about more than just
food—it’s about giving children a real shot at a better future. I’m proud of
the team behind it. Their work has helped keep hundreds of thousands of
children in school,” he said.
County Executive for Health and Nutrition
Suzanne Silantoi echoed the governor’s remarks, noting the logistical effort
involved in delivering meals daily to thousands of children.
“Our team works behind the scenes every single
day to ensure that no child studies or sleeps on an empty stomach. This is
about dignity, hope, and giving every child a fair chance,” she said.
The county operates 17 central kitchens, one
in each of Nairobi’s constituencies, to efficiently prepare and distribute food.
Each kitchen handles thousands of meals every morning, ensuring they arrive
on time for lunch.
The success of the program has prompted plans
to expand it to informal schools, which often serve some of the most vulnerable
children in the city.
The county says it’s committed to making school meals a permanent feature in
Nairobi’s public education system.
With the 50 million meal mark now crossed, Nairobi’s school feeding program is increasingly being viewed as a national model, one that links education, health, and social protection under a single, impactful initiative.
