Sakaja Sets Date for Giving Free Meals to Nairobi Primary Schools

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja during a meeting with Education CS Ezekiel Machogu on Thursday June 8, 2023
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja during a meeting with Education CS Ezekiel Machogu on Thursday June 8, 2023.
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Johnson Sakaja

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, on Thursday, June 7, made significant steps in fulfilling his campaign pledge by launching the free meals programme in primary schools.

Sakaja announced that schools earmarked for the programme will enjoy free meals beginning the third term of this year. According to the school calendar, the third term runs from September to December, depending on the national examination schedule.

Nairobi County will fund the free meals programme in collaboration with the national government.

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Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja Speaking during the UN Habitat Assembly on June 5, 2023.
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Johnson Sakaja

"The Ministry of Education, jointly with Nairobi County, is set to provide meals to learners in public primary schools under the school feeding programme.

"Nairobi City County Government will serve the first meal in the third term of this year," Sakaja announced.

The governor made the announcement following a meeting with Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, Principal Secretaries  Belio Kipsang, and Beatrice Inyangala.

The Ministry of Education vowed to support Sakaja in expediting the programme to reach various primary schools within the city.

To actualise the school feeding programme, Sakaja announced plans to build central kitchens to distribute food to public schools.

On Monday, June 5, the first-time governor shared a sneak peek into Africa's largest kitchen he is building in Nairobi to actualise the promise.

“I am excited to see the progress on Africa’s largest kitchen being built right here in Nairobi. This kitchen leads the way by using 100 per cent green energy through modern cooking technology.

“We are on track to fulfil our promise to our Nairobi children. Groundbreaking on the other 17 kitchens will be happening soon as the procurement process is concluded,” Sakaja stated.

Sakaja partnered with Food for Education, a non-profit organisation, to build the kitchen.

Besides free meals programme, Sakaja revealed that his county was contemplating allocating land for school expansions and other vocational centres.

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A newly constructed kitchen in Nairobi projected to Africa's largest kitchen
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Johnson Sakaja