Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson has revealed how he will
mark this year’s Valentine’s Day saying he will be spreading love through
service.
On Friday, February 14, the Governor said he would visit one
of the city’s public primary schools under the Dishi na County program to serve
and share a meal with learners.
“Dishi na County is a dream come true. I have always wanted
to see children in school have a meal, as a senator then I realized that one in
four children missed classes due to a lack of food,” Sakaja told the Star.
“I promised that once I became Governor, that would be a
thing of the past and now it’s a reality. I want to celebrate that this
Valentine."
The Governor has
encouraged more individuals and organizations to visit schools and witness the
impact of the feeding program, which has transformed public education in
Nairobi.
“Visit one of Nairobi’s public schools and see for yourself
how happy learners are to receive a nutritious hot meal every day for just five
shillings,” he said.
Governor Sakaja says upon assuming power, he tasked
contractors with building 10 central kitchens within his first 100 days in
2022–2023 a target that was successfully met.
In 2024, an additional seven kitchens were constructed,
bringing the total to 17, covering all of Nairobi’s sub-counties.
Currently, Dishi na County provides meals to over 310,000
learners in 210 public primary schools across the city.
The initiative, run in partnership with the Food for
Education Foundation, operates a Tap to Eat system, where meals cost only Sh5
per child.
For those unable to pay, arrangements are made to ensure
that no child is left out.
“This is just the beginning. No child in Nairobi should go
hungry, and we are committed to ensuring every learner gets the support they
need to stay in school,” he assured.
With the program’s success, Governor Sakaja now aims to
extend the initiative to informal schools, ensuring that even the most
vulnerable children receive daily nutritious meals.
