Construction of central kitchens for Nairobi School Feeding Program nears completion

Through a statement dated August 6, the Nairobi County government said the process is in its final stages and contractors are ready to hand over the kitchens.

The 10 kitchens are projected to deliver free meals for 250,000 children in public schools and Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres from the end of August.

"The centralized kitchens are being constructed in Baba Dogo Primary School, Bidii Primary School, Kwa Njenga Primary, Farasi Lane Primary, Muthangari Primary, Kayole One Primary, Njiru Primary, Toi Primary, Roysambu Primary and Racecourse Primary," read the statement in part.

Likewise, at least 60,000 plates will be provided by the Industrial Area mega kitchen on a daily basis to back-up schools that might run short of meals. 

The initiative dubbed the "Dishi na County ", was unveiled by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja in late June with the aim of cushioning parents, keeping children in schools and increasing the transition to higher learning institutions.

Sakaja signed a Ksh.1.7 billion Intergovernmental Partnership Agreement (IPA) with the national government will see funds for the program drawn from both the Consolidated Fund and the County Revenue Fund on a 50-50 basis. 

Per the IPA, the National government will through the Education ministry handle capacity building for Nairobi County on management, administration and implementation of the programme.

This includes budgeting, monitoring and evaluating the implementation, guiding school heads, as well as construction and operations of kitchens in schools.

A petition was however filed seeking to stop the programme, which was met with harsh criticism from President William Ruto, terming the petitioners as "inhumane" and would only see needy children suffer more. 

High Court Judge Mugure Thande declined to stop the program saying it would prejudice the children who are benefiting from it.

“I decline to grant any conservatory orders, to suspend the program at this stage would be against the best interest of the children who are targeted to benefit from the program,” Justice Thande ruled.

So far, according to the statement, Ksh.500 million has been dedicated to build seven more kitchens and the rest to subsidise the cost of a plate for each child. Parents and guardians will pay only Ksh.5 daily for each plate. 

The construction phase has also seen over 200 people getting employed including women and people leaving with disability.