Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced plans to construct additional classrooms to accommodate the growing student population in local schools.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ and media roundtable meeting in Nairobi, the Governor emphasized that this initiative is driven by a 34% increase in student enrollment since the launch of the Dishi na County program.
“We are committed to ensuring that we can accommodate more learners. Plans are already underway to build more classrooms to meet the growing demand,” Sakaja confirmed.
In partnership with the national government, the county is set to invest 1 billion shillings in expanding educational facilities to accommodate the increasing number of learners.
“We thank the President for this great partnership, and we are ready to build these classrooms because enrollment continues to rise,” Sakaja reiterated.
Governor Sakaja emphasized the importance of proper governance structures to manage the initiative effectively.
He underscored his commitment to accountability, which has facilitated the establishment of 17 central kitchens across the county, providing meals for more than 310,000 learners.
“I will not tolerate any misuse of funds in this noble cause of feeding our children. I thank my team for their dedication and hard work in making this a success,” the governor stated, reinforcing his administration’s focus on educational support and child welfare.
Health and Nutrition CEC Suzanne Silantoi said that, 14 months after the launch of Nairobi County’s Dishi na County initiative, the county has become a leader in universal school feeding programs. This program provides meals to all school children every school day throughout the year.
“Most feeding programs focus on minority and vulnerable groups for selected days in the school year,” she explained.
Wawira Njiru, founder of Food 4 Education, highlighted the program’s positive impact, saying it has made it possible for underprivileged children to access education without the worry of hunger.
“Hungry learners struggle academically, and that’s what we aim to address. We want our kids in Nairobi to be well-fed so they can learn effectively,” she added.
Dishi na County Director Esther Mogusu highlighted the importance of the Dishi na County program, noting its impact in feeding over 310,000 children. She explained that similar programs have been attempted before, dating back to the 1970s with the well-known Maziwa ya Nyayo initiative launched under President Moi.
“We’re thrilled to be feeding even more children this time,” Mogusu said. “While President Moi provided milk through Maziwa ya Nyayo, Governor Sakaja is now serving nutritious hot meals, which is real progress.”
