By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 6 January 2026 - As public schools reopened for the first term of 2026, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja chose an unusual way to signal readiness: joining cooks in the early hours of the morning at a central kitchen serving the city’s flagship school feeding programme, Dishi na County.
Dressed in an apron at Muthangari Primary School, Sakaja worked alongside kitchen staff as meals were prepared overnight, a symbolic but deliberate move aimed at underscoring the county’s confidence in a programme that has become central to Nairobi’s education and social welfare agenda.
The governor said the visit was intended to verify that operations were running smoothly as learners returned to school, stressing that no disruptions were expected despite the scale of the initiative.
“As schools reopen today, I am happy that it is all systems go for this programme. Children are opening school to a hot, nutritious meal in all our public schools,” Sakaja said.
Dishi na County feeds more than 316,000 learners in over 230 public primary schools across Nairobi’s 17 sub-counties, making it one of the largest urban school feeding programmes in the region.
Its logistics are demanding: meal preparation begins as early as 9pm and runs through to 4am, followed by distribution across the city ahead of lunchtime at 12:30pm.
Sakaja highlighted the human infrastructure behind the programme, noting that more than 5,000 workers are involved in cooking, packaging and delivery each school day.
According to the governor, the programme’s success is not only measured in meals served but in its broader educational impact.
“When a child is assured of a hot, nutritious meal every school day, attendance improves, concentration rises and learning truly begins and that is the promise of Dishi na County,” he said.
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The meals are provided at a subsidised cost of Ksh5 per child, a feature county officials say has eased pressure on low-income families while keeping children in school.
Sakaja framed the initiative as a social intervention rather than a welfare handout.
“This is more than food; it is dignity, focus and opportunity served on a plate. For many children, this meal is the difference between staying in class or dropping out, between concentration and hunger,” he said.
Since its launch, the programme has relied on 17 central kitchens to standardise quality, hygiene and efficiency. By the end of last term, county data shows more than 60 million meals had been served — figures officials argue reflect both demand and trust in the system.
As the new term begins, Dishi na County faces renewed scrutiny over sustainability, cost and long-term impact.
For now, however, the county government is projecting confidence, reinforcing a message that has become synonymous with the programme’s branding of "Watoi watadishi, watashiba, watasoma" which loosely translates to children will be fed, they will be satisfied, and they will learn.
