Governor Johnson Sakaja has hailed the success of Nairobi’s school feeding program, Dishi na County, citing a 34% increase in enrollment at public schools and Early Childhood Development Education Centres (ECDEs).
Speaking at Strathmore University during the opening of the Collaborative Action for Childcare Annual Conference, Sakaja emphasized the program’s pivotal role in encouraging more children to attend school.
Sakaja highlighted the importance of robust policy frameworks to enhance childcare services across the county. “Counties need to execute effective childcare policies and acts to strengthen the sector,” he urged.
Since taking office, Sakaja’s administration has disbursed Ksh 2.1 billion in bursaries and sponsorship programs aimed at supporting children in public schools and ECDEs, further bolstering access to education for Nairobi’s young population.
The Governor also reiterated his commitment to transforming the childcare sector, calling for collective action to attract funding and develop local resources.
“The Nairobi regional bloc will lead the way in demonstrating how collective action can transform the childcare sector, especially by attracting funding and establishing homegrown resources,” he stated.
A cornerstone of Sakaja’s vision for childcare is a comprehensive six-point strategy focused on children from birth.
This strategy includes nurturing care, early stimulation, and childcare services, with plans to establish daycare centers in major city markets such as Mwariro and Gikomba.
In a significant move to create more child-friendly spaces, Sakaja revealed that his administration has recovered 117 parcels of grabbed public land, where the county plans to establish outdoor play areas, including playgrounds, swings, lights, outdoor gyms, and hopscotch grids in various city estates.
Additionally, Nairobi is home to over 7,000 women-led childcare micro-enterprises operating in urban settlements, providing essential services to approximately 160,000 children across the city.
Governor Sakaja reaffirmed his commitment to leading Nairobi’s efforts in enhancing childcare, a critical area for the city’s future.
