Governor Sakaja breaks down as he unveils school feeding programme

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on Tuesday broke down in tears during the unveiling of the tenth kitchen under the Nairobi School Feeding Programme dubbed 'Dishi na County' in Roysambu Constituency.

Addressing top government officials and other delegates who graced the event, key among them President William Ruto, Sakaja took issue with the fact that inadequate infrastructure has been put in place to support the initiative in schools across the county.

He added that Nairobi County is often overlooked whenever drought and famine interventions are instituted across Kenya by the National Government, despite the fact that the region is home to a number of informal settlements and Kenyan parents who survive on less than Ksh.100 a day.

"Mara nyingi interventions za njaa na marginalisation ignore Nairobi because everyone assumes that Nairobi has money. Urban poverty in many respects bites harder than poverty in the rural area. Kama hauna pesa you will not eat and you will not find a place to sleep in Nairobi," said Sakaja at Roysambu Primary School.

He added that while doing rounds across public schools in the county on Monday, one issue that was consistently raised by the pupils he managed to interact with was that of scarcity of food.  

"Yesterday I visited a number of schools and when you look at the reaction of children when you mention food...we as leaders need to be very embarrassed. Our children are losing a third of their education when they are told to go and find food and they don't back to class,” he said.

The city boss also noted that a dignified life demands a decent education and as such the issue of food scarcity in schools is one that should be treated with urgency.

"This is a problem we must solve together and for us to do that, we need planning, persuasion and cash. We need to pay for it, arrange logistics and we need to communicate our plan clearly so that every parent in Nairobi understands it and the part they will play," he said.

The Nairobi Governor likewise revealed that the newly unveiled kitchen will not only serve Roysambu Primary School but all schools within the constituency, further noting that his administration settled on using a hub and spoke model when introducing the feeding programme initiative.

"This kitchen, for instance, is not for Roysambu Primary only. It is for all public schools in Roysambu Constituency. We have ground broken in Starehe, Makadara, Kasarani, Embakasi South, Dagoretti North, Kibra and Westlands," he said.

"The costs of these programmes have not been consistent and the cost to the parent is still high. Ksh.70 kwa mzazi Nairobi saa zingine ni ngumu. I want to thank our partners for the cost of a meal at Ksh.45; the county is paying Ksh.25, CIFF is paying Ksh.15 na mzazi analipa Ksh.5."

As Governor Sakaja continued to chime in on the matter, his voice began to crack and he soon after started holding back his tears.

"Our children who are not in public schools are not in expensive private academies but Basic Education and Training (APBET) schools that do not have set schedules in place. We must do something," said the teary-eyed Sakaja.

"I am sorry your Excellency (President Ruto), ni uchungu ya hawa watoto," he added.

A yet to be identified woman walked up to the podium and briefly consoled the Nairobi Governor before one of his aides offered him a handkerchief to wipe his tears.

All this while, the crowd in attendance was urging Sakaja on.

"This thing must work, there is no other way. These children deserve the same like what your children and mine have and so I thank you because you have supported us from the beginning. Whenever there has been resistance you have called your minister to intervene for the children of Nairobi," Sakaja told Ruto.

"We are doing 10 kitchens in ten weeks. The contractors, who I have briefed about the programme's importance, are not just making buildings, they are giving our children dignity and hope for the future. Thank you Your Excellency, one day vile wanakumbuka maziwa ya Nyayo, watakumbuka chakula ya Ruto."