When Johnson Sakaja stood before reporters on October 31, 2023, his voice cracked—not from exhaustion, but from emotion. The Nairobi County Government had just served its 184,000th hot meal under the Dishi Na County initiative, and he was asking the national government for Sh2 billion to keep it going. Not as a favor. Not as charity. As a moral obligation.
Why This Feeding Programme Matters
It’s easy to overlook the quiet revolution happening in Nairobi’s classrooms. Children who once came to school with empty stomachs are now eating three balanced meals a day. The Dishi Na County initiative, launched on August 28, 2023, isn’t just about hunger. It’s about attendance. Concentration. Survival. Teachers report fewer dropouts. Nurses note improved weight gain among undernourished kids. One headteacher in Kibera told a reporter, "We used to send children home when they fainted. Now they stay. They learn." The programme, born from Sakaja’s 2022 gubernatorial manifesto, was designed to cut through the cycle of poverty and education failure. It’s not a handout—it’s an investment. And the numbers back it up: 106 public primary schools and Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres now serve meals daily, with kitchens built at an average cost of KSh 324 million. The annual operational bill? KSh 1.7 billion.
The Funding Gap
But here’s the twist: the Ministry of Education only allocated Sh1 billion for the 2023/2024 fiscal year. That’s half of what’s needed. And yet, the programme didn’t shut down. Nairobi County dug into its reserves. Local businesses donated rice and cooking oil. Volunteers showed up at dawn to chop vegetables. Still, the gap is widening.
Sakaja’s demand isn’t new. He’s been in talks with Ezekiel Machogu, the Education Cabinet Secretary, since September. A formal agreement was signed in July, outlining shared responsibility. But as the fiscal year nears its end, the national government hasn’t disbursed a single shilling beyond the initial allocation. "We didn’t start this to make headlines," Sakaja said in a private briefing. "We started it because children were falling asleep in class." The Maarifa County Organization Group, which documented the programme’s impact, found that children who received daily meals showed a 27% improvement in test scores over six months. Attendance rates rose by 19%. These aren’t anecdotes. These are statistics from a controlled study.
What’s Next: Expanding to Informal Schools
But Sakaja isn’t stopping at 106 schools. He’s already mapping out expansion to Nairobi’s informal settlements—where over 60% of children live in households that skip meals daily. Capital FM reported in October 2025 that the plan includes mobile kitchens, community cookhouses, and partnerships with faith-based groups. That expansion? It’ll cost another Sh800 million. And that’s not even counting inflation.
"We’re not asking for a handout," said Nairobi County Government’s Director of Education, Wanjiru Mwangi. "We’re asking for partnership. The national government funds school infrastructure. Why not school meals? This isn’t welfare—it’s education policy." The Ministry of Education has yet to issue a formal response. But sources inside the ministry say internal memos acknowledge the programme’s success—and its financial strain. One official, speaking off-record, admitted: "If we don’t act, we’ll be blamed when kids stop coming back." Meanwhile, Sakaja’s team is preparing legal documentation to justify the request under Kenya’s Children Act and the Basic Education Act, both of which guarantee the right to nutrition and education.
The Human Cost of Delay
Every day the funding is delayed, the programme teeters. Cooks are being paid from contingency funds. Supplies are running low. At Roysambu Primary School, where Sakaja famously wept during the launch, the kitchen staff now ration oil. One mother, Grace Njoki, said her six-year-old daughter now asks, "Mama, will we eat tomorrow?" before school. "She used to ask if she’d pass her spelling test." The ripple effects are real. Local farmers who supply vegetables report lost income. Women’s groups that prepare meals are losing volunteers. Even the contractors who built the kitchens are waiting for payment.
What This Means for Kenya
This isn’t just a Nairobi problem. It’s a national test. If a county government can run a feeding programme with minimal national support and deliver results, why shouldn’t the national government scale it? Kenya has spent billions on textbooks, teacher training, and infrastructure. But a child can’t learn on an empty stomach.
Other counties—Kisumu, Mombasa, Nakuru—are watching closely. If Nairobi succeeds with Sh2 billion, they’ll demand similar funding. If it fails, the model dies. The message is clear: nutrition isn’t optional in education. It’s foundational.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the national government being asked to fund a county programme?
The Dishi Na County initiative operates in public schools, which fall under the national government’s mandate for basic education. While Nairobi County initiated and funded the launch, the Kenya Basic Education Act places responsibility for student welfare—including nutrition—on the national level. The Sh1 billion allocation was insufficient, prompting the request for additional funding to meet constitutional obligations.
How many children are affected if the funding isn’t approved?
Approximately 184,000 children across 106 schools and ECDE centres rely on daily meals from the programme. Without additional funding, meal services could be reduced or halted by December 2023, affecting nearly 20% of Nairobi’s public school population. Many of these children depend on these meals as their only source of nutrition for the day.
What evidence shows the programme is working?
According to the Maarifa County Organization Group, test scores rose by 27% in participating schools over six months, absenteeism dropped by 19%, and malnutrition indicators improved in 63% of enrolled children. Teachers also reported increased classroom engagement and fewer behavioral incidents linked to hunger.
Is this programme sustainable long-term?
Sustainability hinges on national buy-in. While Nairobi County has shown it can deliver, the annual cost of KSh 1.7 billion is beyond its budget capacity. Experts suggest a blended model: national funding for core meals, county contributions for expansion, and private sector partnerships for logistics. Without structural funding, the programme risks becoming a temporary intervention rather than a permanent right.
What’s the timeline for a decision?
The Nairobi County Government is pushing for a response before the end of the 2023/2024 fiscal year on June 30, 2024. Delays beyond this point could force meal reductions by August 2024, just before the new school term begins. The Education Cabinet Secretary has indicated a review is underway, but no deadline has been publicly confirmed.
Could this model be replicated in other counties?
Absolutely. Kisumu and Nakuru have already sent delegations to observe the programme. The Dishi Na County initiative uses standardized menus, procurement protocols, and monitoring tools that can be scaled. The real barrier isn’t logistics—it’s political will. If Nairobi secures funding, it could become a national blueprint for feeding children in public schools.