• Ruto highlighted that the way the court handled the case, its the society people want to live in where the Judiciary can deal decisively with heartless people.
• The Sh1.7 billion agreement sets forth the terms of understanding between the parties in the implementation of the school meals programme.
Image: PCS
President William Ruto on Tuesday bashed a lobby group for its attempt to stop Nairobi county's school feeding programme.
Speaking at State House on Tuesday, Ruto said he couldn't understand why someone would be against school children getting meals at schools.
"We have bad people. Some fellow went to court to stop us feeding hungry children. They went to court to stop a feeding program that will give children free meals. Someone has the moral fibre to go to court to stop it," he said.
The Head of State commended the Judiciary for taking a bold stand against the petition, noting that it proved how the courts can deal decisively with heartless people.
"Luckily for us and unluckily for them (lobby group), they found some human people in court who told them that you cannot stop hungry children from having a meal," he added.
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.
She asked the court to give conservatory orders halting and/or suspending the release and spending of the money allocated to the school-feeding programme known as “Dishi na County” which is meant to benefit public primary schools.
However, last week, the High Court declined to suspend Nairobi county's school feeding programme.
It said doing so 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'.
Going further, the Head of State commended Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja for going into an agreement with the National Government over the feeding programme.
"I'm proud and want to congratulate Nairobi Governor because, finally, we have a framework approved by the Attorney General for us to work together to make sure many kids especially in informal settlements in Nairobi get meals in school," Ruto added.
Last month, Governor Sakaja signed an Intergovernmental Partnership Agreement with the National government on the implementation of a school meal plan in Nairobi.
The Sh1.7 billion agreement sets forth the terms of understanding between the parties in the implementation of the school meals programme in public primary schools in Nairobi.
The signing was between the governor and Education CS Ezekiel Machogu and was witnessed by Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung’u
The agreement took effect as of July 17, for three years.
According to Sakaja, it will cost Sh5 for school children in public schools and ECDEs within Nairobi to get free meals in the next financial year 2023-24.
Already, the groundbreaking of the construction of central kitchens took place in 10 sub counties last month.
The construction is expected to take about 10 weeks with the first meal set to be served on the first day of the third term of this school year.
The sub counties include Dagoretti North, Embakasi Central, Embakasi South, Kasarani, Kibra, Makadara, Starehe, Roysamu, Ruaraka, and Westlands subcounties.
Governor 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 Early Childhood Development centres.