Realising the vision: Sakaja celebrates Dishi na County's first anniversary

Exactly one year ago in August 2023, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja's Dishi na County served its first meal.

This initiative was born from the stark reality that one in four school-going children in Nairobi would go to class on an empty stomach.

Today, the food-for-education program has grown to provide hot, nutritious meals to over 310,000 pupils across all public schools in Nairobi's 17 subcounties.

Sakaja, who once attempted to introduce a bill as Nairobi's Senator to provide meals for schoolchildren, is now celebrating the fulfilment of his vision.

"I visited many schools, and whenever I asked the children what they needed, they always said food," Sakaja said while reflecting on the journey. 

"It was a shocking revelation, but it made me determined to one day make this dream a reality."

Upon taking office as Governor, Sakaja prioritised the food-for-education initiative.

The Dishi Na County program is a collaboration between the Nairobi City County and the Ministry of Education, executed by the Food For Education Foundation.

It ensures that every child in public primary schools and Early Childhood Development centres in Nairobi receives a hot, nutritionally balanced meal every school day.

Sakaja noted that they have established systems across all subcounties to ensure that, by next term, all registered public schools will provide nutritious meals.

To facilitate this, 17 kitchens have been completed, one in each subcounty, with seven set to be inaugurated by President William Ruto this coming week.

The program is designed to be affordable, with children paying just Sh5 per meal through a tap-to-eat system.

For those unable to afford even this nominal fee, the county steps in to cover the cost.

"Our motto, 'Watoto wakule washibe ile wasome,' reflects our commitment to ensuring education is supported by proper nutrition," Sakaja said.

The Dishi Na County program has also created employment for over 5,000 people, both directly and indirectly.

The Dishi na County Programme, launched in June 2023, began with the establishment of ten central kitchens, with the first meals served on August 28, 2023.

By January 2024, the second phase had seen an additional ten kitchens operational, catering to 184,000 children from 106 public schools daily.

As it marks its first anniversary, Governor Sakaja celebrates the realisation of what was once just a dream.