Technical team wants dishi na county made permanent in Nairobi

Dishi na County staff serves one of the beneficiaries in one of the schools in Nairobi County. /HANDOUT

Nairobi’s school feeding programme “Dishi na County” could soon be a permanent feature in the capital after a multisectoral technical group recommended it be implemented by successive administrations.

The Multi–sectoral technical working group led by county director of school feeding Esther Mogusu is inching closer to making the Nairobi City County School Feeding Policy a reality, hoping to officially institutionalise the “Dishi na County” programme.

The objective is to ensure all learners across Nairobi have permanent, legal access to nutritious, safe and affordable daily meals.

Launched immediately Governor Johnson Sakaja took office in 2022, the plan utilises centralised kitchens and a "tap-to-eat" system where parents load a small, subsidised fee onto a virtual wallet, which is linked to a student's smart wristband for seamless, cashless meal payments.

Up to approximately 300,000 school going children are being fed daily in the programme with hot meals.

“This policy will anchor school feeding as a core, coordinated and sustainable county system, representing a strategic shift from ad hoc feeding initiatives to a fiscally accountable, results-based social investment that enhances learning outcomes, promotes equity and strengthens community well-being,” Mogusu said.

The policy will directly address the challenges related to sustainability, standardisation and equitable coverage faced by previous initiatives. It is grounded in the constitutional rights to nutrition, health and education (Articles 43 and 53) and aligns with the county’s commitment to social protection and inclusive growth.

According to the director of city education Ruth Owuor, institutionalising the programme will ensure continuity and depoliticise it, making parents and families plan their future without pandering to the wishes of the individual on governor's seat.

“This is more than just feeding children; it is investing in the future human capital of Nairobi as envisioned by Governor Sakaja Johnson. The policy will embed Dishi na County into the very fabric of our governance. This policy guarantees that no child will be left behind due to hunger; securing their right to education and setting them up for a future of success,” said Ruth Owuor, Director, City Education.

The push to institutionalise the initiative beyond the individual holding the governor’s office seems to have the support of the county assembly.

Lily Kidenda, nominated MCA and a member of the education and health committees, who is part of the team crafting the policy, hailed the proposal as a first step in keeping children in school. She said urban poverty is more unforgiving hence families deserve every support they can get.

“The policy is the first critical step. It sets clear standards for quality and safety while enabling us to build a robust School Feeding Fund which will guarantee resource efficiency and transparency, protecting this vital programme from political and administrative cycles,” Kidenda said.

Dishi na County has been a central flagship project of Sakaja who says it is part of his commitment to achieving his vision of “A City of Order, Dignity and Opportunity for all.”

Mogusu said the county administration’s programmes like Dishi na County, works to enhance public welfare, improve urban infrastructure and deliver equitable services in education, health and economic empowerment across the capital.

The multi-sectoral team comprised technical staff from the Health, Wellness & Nutrition sector, Finance & Economic planning, Public Communication,  Education; Director donor coordination Kefa Omanga, director of public participation Godfrey Ochele, and a representative from the legal department.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

One of the major objectives of the policy is to ensure all learners receive safe, diverse and nutritious meals to improve health, concentration, attendance and retention, as well as integrating urban agriculture and local food systems into the supply chain to stimulate local economic growth and support small-scale producers.