Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has expressed optimism that the case challenging Nairobi county’s school feeding programme will be thrown out by the court.
Sakaja broke his silence moments after the court on Thursday declined to suspend the school feeding programme.
In a tweet, the governor thanked the court for standing with the children and said he will ensure the programme works.
“Thank you to the Judiciary for standing with the children of Kenya. The High Court has refused to give orders stopping the school feeding program pending a full hearing,” he said.
"The children will win. Watoi wadishi, washibe, wasome. Lazima iWork."
The court said issuing a directive to suspend the programme would not be in the best interest of the children.
Justice Mugure Thande said the interest of the children is of paramount importance hence 'conservatory orders sought cannot be issued at this stage'.
“I decline to grant any conservatory orders at this stage. To suspend the programme at this stage will be against the best interest of the children who are targeted to benefit from this program," she said.
A lobby had early this month gone to court seeking to suspend Nairobi County’s Sh1.2 billion primary school feeding programme, a move that could have denied over 250,000 learners the opportunity to enjoy a meal a day while in school.
Tunza Mtoto Coalition executive director Janet Muthoni Ouko, whose lobby represents privately owned informal schools, had asked the Constitutional and Human Rights Court to suspend the programme until her case is heard and determined.
However, Lady Justice M Thande ordered that the petition and application by the petitioner shall be heard together and all responses shall be filed and served by August 4.
Respondents and interesting parties have also been ordered to file submissions by September 1.