On the first school day of this term Nairobi county rolled out the second phase of the Dishi Na County with over 100,000 more students being fed, bringing the total number of learners in the program to 184,000 from 80,000.
The operationalization of the 10 central kitchens, built by the County, enabled for more meals to be prepared increasing the number of public schools and Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers to 164.
The Dishi Na County School Feeding Program was established to promote the well-being of the county’s young learners and has made tremendous progress since its launch on 28th August 2023. This pioneering initiative aligns with the broader national goals of Vision 2030 and adheres to the principles enshrined in the Kenyan Constitution (2010) with its beneficiaries being learners in public primary schools and ECD centres.
Governor Johnson Sakaja said the project is part of a vision he had for years, to ensure the provision of a daily nutritionally balanced hot meal for all children in public primary schools and public ECD centre. He said the demand of enrollment public primary schools and ECDEs shoot up forcing most schools to extend structures to accommodate more children.
“This subsidized school meal program has led to some of the putting up structures to accommodate more children because of increased enrollment. The terrible experience of children going hungry and attending classes on an empty stomach not able to concentrate is a thing of the past. The indicator of success in this school feeding program is how happy the children are,” said Governor Sakaja.
In the first two weeks of rolling out the programme this year Governor Sakaja joined children in Lavington Primary, Kinyanjui Road Primary School, Muthangari Primary School, Kayole One Primary, Dhawabu Primary, Imara Primary, AED Mukuru kwa Rueben, Mukuru kwa Njenga Primary, Moi Avenue Primary and Kangemi Primary, to serve the children and share a meal.
“As the Governor of Nairobi City County, I am committed to ensuring the next generation, especially those from a disadvantaged background, get a chance in life, get an opportunity to reach their full potential” said Governor Sakaja.
The Dishi na County initiative operates on a Hub and Spoke Model, with a central kitchen currently in 10 sub-counties. These are in: Starehe, Makadara, Kasarani, Roysambu, Embakasi Central, Dagoretti North, Kibra, Westlands, Ruaraka, and Embakasi South. These central kitchens utilize green energy and adhere to the highest national and international safety standards, ensuring compliance with World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recommendations. Each kitchen produces about 10,000 meals a day and this is further supplemented by the modern state-of-art Industrial Area mega kitchen which provides at least 60,000 plates per day.
During the construction phase about 395 people were employed, including women and people leaving with disability.
The kitchens distribute nutritionally balanced, and hot meals to children every school day. The meals are subsidized by the County and donors with parents paying only Ksh5, making it the most affordable school lunch option in the county.
During the issuing of Bursaries this January Mildred Ayera, an Orphan who did her KCPE in New Kihumbuini Primary School, in Westalnds Sub-County, narrated how the Dishi meal everyday was a blessing that helped her concentrate better during her third term last year.
“we could not afford the school lunch every day and sometimes I would go throughout the day without food. When Dishi was introduced to our school, I was happy, I got to east a mealy daily and I think it helped me in my performance during the exams,” she said.
Mildred passed her KCPE and was called to a National School – Loreto Limuru.
The Programme has been implemented through a phased approach, with the first phase serving approximately 80,000 meals daily. This second phase has increased the number of student and the third phase will be rolled out later this year once the seven other kitchens are completed. Groundbreaking of the seven kitchens is expected in February and completion mid-year.
The seven kitchens will be located in: Dagoretti South, Embakasi North, Embakasi East, Embakasi West, Langata, Mathare and Kamkunji.
The Dishi na County School Feeding Program is a testament to Nairobi’s commitment to the holistic development of its children. Beyond addressing immediate nutritional needs, the initiative has demonstrated positive impacts on children’s health, school performance, attendance, and overall well-being. As the program continues to expand and evolve, it sets a precedent for sustainable and inclusive practices that prioritize the health and education of the future generation.
This will cushion parents, keep children in schools, increase enrolment and transition to higher learning institutions in public primary schools and ECDs across 17 sub-counties in Nairobi. Sakaja said the project is part of a vision he had for years.
In the financial year 2023/2024 Ksh1.7 billion was budgeted for the Dishi na County program. Of this Ksh1.2 billion is for the food subsidy and the Ksh500 million allocated towards the building of the seven kitchens.
Nairobi county and the national government signed three year Intergovernmental Partnership Agreement on the implementation of a school meal plan in July 2023. The agreement will see the National Government support Nairobi County.
“The parties have agreed to collaborate in the development of conducive teaching and learning experience in public primary schools in the Nairobi City County, beginning with a programme for the provision of school meals within the said County, to improve the health and nutrition status of the leaners,” says the agreement.