Deputy President Kithure Kindiki lauded the school feeding program launched by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja saying it has been key in addressing malnutrition in the country.
The school feeding program launched in August 2023 has benefitted 310,000 learners in Nairobi County.
In his address, the Deputy President underscored the critical issue of malnutrition noting that it remains a significant public health challenge in Kenya.
He commended the program for its innovative approach to addressing food insecurity and ensuring children have access to affordable meals.
“Malnutrition continues to affect many due to inadequate food and access to healthcare. The Dishi Na County initiative, which feeds children for just five shillings, is a commendable solution,” said Kindiki.
He spoke at the 1st Nairobi Health Scientific Conference 2024 on Wednesday.
He noted that poverty in informal settlements has left many families unable to provide consistent meals for their children, leading to school absenteeism.
“Many who can afford three meals a day may not fully appreciate the transformative impact Dishi Na County has brought to thousands of learners in Nairobi. Governor, you are doing an excellent job alleviating the pain and suffering of these children,” Kindiki remarked.
The Dishi Na County initiative, launched in August 2023, currently feeds learners in over 230 public schools across all 17 sub-counties of Nairobi.
The county has established 17 centralized kitchens to prepare and distribute the meals efficiently. During this third school term, the program marked a significant milestone, delivering its 30 millionth meal.
The Dishi na County Programme began with the establishment of 10 central kitchens, with the first meals served on August 28, 2023.
Over 5,000 workers have been employed under the Dishi na County initiative working in the kitchens strategically set in the City prepare meals and transport them to various schools, creating job opportunities for residents.
The initiative was born from the stark reality that one in four children in Nairobi used to attend school on an empty stomach.
Since then, under the leadership of Governor Johnson Sakaja, what started with 10 kitchens has now expanded to 17 central kitchens in every Subcounty and has grown to support over 310,000 pupils across all public schools in the areas.
By January 2024, the second phase had seen an additional ten kitchens operational, catering to 184,000 children from 106 public schools daily.
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