Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has demanded Sh2 billion from the Ministry of Education to support the county’s Dishi na County school feeding initiative, accusing the ministry of failing to honour a co-funding agreement.
Speaking before the Senate Education Committee, Sakaja said the ministry had pledged to match the county’s contribution to the programme on a shilling-for-shilling basis but has yet to release the promised funds.
“There was an undertaking that the Ministry would match a shilling for every shilling we spend. We have already invoiced the national government Sh2 billion, but they have not given us the money,” Sakaja told senators.
The intergovernmental agreement stipulated that the Ministry of Education would draw its contribution from the School Feeding Programme Fund, managed from Jogoo House.
Currently, more than 316,000 learners across Nairobi benefit from the initiative, paying Sh5 per meal. However, Sakaja revealed that about 10 per cent of the beneficiaries receive free meals because their parents cannot afford the daily fee.
“We have instructed our officers not to turn away any child who lacks the Sh5. The county is covering the cost for them,” he said.
Sakaja also announced plans to expand the programme to include learners in informal schools. As a stopgap measure, the county is mapping nearby public schools where children from informal institutions can access meals during lunchtime.
“In our 230 public schools, we operate 17 central kitchens that currently feed 316,000 learners. To include all informal schools, we would need 69 additional kitchens,” Sakaja explained.
He emphasized that funding remains the main hurdle but expressed optimism that the national government would eventually honour its commitment, ensuring that no child in Nairobi goes hungry during school hours.
