Nairobi is moving to permanently secure daily meals for hundreds of thousands of learners after Governor Johnson Sakaja-led County Cabinet unanimously approved the Nairobi City County School Feeding Policy, giving long-term legal and financial backing to the popular Dishi na County programme.
The decision marks a significant shift from temporary feeding initiatives to a fully institutionalised, law-anchored system designed to guarantee every child access to nutritious meals while in school.
Since its launch in 2023, Dishi na County Programme has grown into one of the county’s flagship social interventions, now serving over 316,000 learners every day across more than 230 public primary schools and ECDE centres through 17 central kitchens.
In just over two years, it has delivered over 50 million meals and contributed to a sharp rise in school enrollment and attendance.
Cabinet resolutions include drafting a School Feeding Bill to provide statutory backing, ring-fencing funds in the upcoming budget, creating a dedicated School Meals Unit for logistics and quality control, and expanding coverage to at least 20 additional schools in informal settlements by the next school term.
Plans are also underway to partner with the national government on a co-funding model and gradually increase kitchens from 17 to about 69 to ensure full citywide coverage.
Officials say the policy operationalises children’s constitutional rights to nutrition and education, while also stimulating the local economy by sourcing food from small-scale farmers, vendors and suppliers.
Teachers and parents alike have reported improved classroom concentration, healthier pupils and reduced financial pressure on low-income households.
Governor Sakaja said the move is about protecting both the dignity and the future of Nairobi’s children.
“A hungry child cannot learn. By securing school meals in law, we are securing the future workforce and leadership of this city,” he said.
He emphasized that no learner will be turned away due to inability to pay the token meal contribution.
“This programme is about equality. Whether a child comes from an informal settlement or an affluent neighbourhood, they deserve the same chance to learn with dignity,” Sakaja noted.
The Governor added that the initiative is also an economic investment for the county.
“Every plate we serve supports farmers, suppliers and workers. We are not just feeding children we are strengthening families and building Nairobi’s human capital,” he said.
City Hall maintains that institutionalising the feeding programme is a cornerstone of Nairobi’s transformation agenda alongside disaster preparedness and river regeneration aimed at creating a cleaner, safer and more inclusive capital where opportunity begins in the classroom.
