‘Dishi Na Sakaja’ programme Crumbles on first Day of Implementation
A highly-anticipated endeavor aimed at addressing hunger among students in public schools in Nairobi, known as the Dishi na County program and led by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, encountered significant challenges on its inaugural day.
This program, a joint effort involving the National Government, the French Government, and the county administration, had the objective of providing daily free lunches to all public school students within the city.
Initially, students were requested to contribute a nominal fee of Ksh5 per day to sustain the program, with the assurance of receiving a nutritious meal in return. However, on Monday when the school bell rang, eager students arrived at school without the promised lunch, leaving them hungry and disappointed.
What was envisioned as a transformative initiative swiftly turned into a source of frustration for many students who had paid their money with no results. The lack of communication from the county government regarding the delay further added to the confusion and disappointment.
Governor Sakaja had previously presented this school feeding program as one of his significant projects during his tenure as the county administrator. With the construction of ten modern kitchens capable of feeding a remarkable 250,000 children and an enrollment of approximately 88,000 students, expectations were high.
The ambitious plan involved allocating Ksh1.2 billion to support the project, which entailed preparing meals at central kitchens and distributing them to schools using sealed containers and specialized vehicles. Each kitchen was expected to produce around 10,000 nutritious meals daily, offering a promising future for the city’s youth.
Also Read:Â Free Lunch Feeding Program in Nairobi; Schools to Benefit
However, as the first day unfolded with empty stomachs, parents began to question the fate of the money they had already paid and whether they should resume packing food for their children.
Efforts to contact the governor’s office for clarification on the situation were met with silence, leaving parents, students, and the public uninformed about the unexpected turn of events.
This unfortunate commencement of the Dishi na County program raises crucial questions regarding the preparedness and commitment of government officials to fulfill their promises and execute vital initiatives that aim to benefit the most vulnerable members of society.
As we await further updates and a response from the county government, there is a collective hope that this setback will serve as a lesson in transparency and accountability, ensuring that the well-being of Nairobi’s schoolchildren remains a top priority in all future endeavors.
‘Dishi Na Sakaja’ programme Crumbles on first Day of Implementation
