Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced that all children in public schools in Nairobi County will be getting food at Ksh5 from January 2024.
Speaking during Kenya's Jamhuri Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, the county boss noted the importance of ensuring that every child has access to daily meals while expressing gratitude for the collaborative efforts that have made this initiative possible.
"Your Excellency, tulizundua na wewe kule Roysambu jikoni, kuhakikisha kwamba hawa watoto wetu wataweza kupata chakula kila siku shuleni, ningependa kuwaambia kuwa tumemaliza jikoni kumi. Kwanzia Januari watoto wetu wote wa Nairobi, watapata chakula kwa shilingi tano kila siku katika shule za umma thanks to devolution," Sakaja stated.
Loosely translated as; "Your Excellency, we initiated a project with you in Roysambu's kitchen to ensure that our children can access food every day at school. I am pleased to inform you that we have completed ten kitchens. Starting from January, all our Nairobi children will receive food for Ksh5 each day in public schools, thanks to devolution."
He also commended the Green Army, a dedicated group of youth tasked with the responsibility of maintaining cleanliness in Nairobi County.
"Because of the Green Army, hawa vijana ambao kila eneo la Nairobi wanafungua mitaro, wanasafisha drainage, hakujakua na floods Nairobi mwaka huu and despite El Nino, and we thank God and we thank this young people for what they have done. Na sasa El Nino imeisha, kazi yao itakua kupanda maua na kusafisha so as to restore the green city under the sun," he stated.
Sakaja,feeding program
In September Sakaja was forced to address claims that his feeding program had failed in some schools.
The first-time governor rubbished the claims noting that the speculations were just malicious propaganda by his enemies.
"A few people are against our feeding program for nefarious reasons. Resorting to propaganda won’t work. Using children for politics won’t work. The first phase of schools onboarded has been getting their hot meals daily and on time. All head teachers have communication to continue with their arrangements until the county communicates once the next phase begins," Sakaja stated.
The governor noted that at least 80,000 students were already enjoying daily meals in the first phase of the feeding program implementation.
