Nairobi Education Stakeholders Push for Reforms in School Feeding Programs

Education stakeholders in Nairobi have stepped up calls for sweeping reforms to the city’s school‑feeding programmes, highlighting gaps in coverage, equity and sustainability. At a recent policy forum convened by the County Education Department, school heads, nutrition experts and non‑governmental organisations urged the acceleration of the Dishi na County initiative and demanded expanded inclusion of learners in informal‑settlement and alternative provision schools.
The Dishi na County programme, launched to ensure daily nutritious meals for public primary and ECDE schools across Nairobi, has made notable progress—reporting over 316,000 learners reached via 17 central kitchens across the city. Yet recent research and policy reviews show significant gaps: informal‑settlement schools and low‑cost private institutions remain excluded, raising fears of growing inequality in support access.Speakers argued that the current model, though impactful, needs stronger mechanisms for expansion, transparency, local procurement and targeted funding to deliver on nutritional and educational outcomes.
Reactions from the education community have been cautiously hopeful. Teachers and school administrators applauded the meal‑programme’s effect on improved attendance, attention and classroom performance. Learners come to school ready to learn rather than waiting for food, noted one head‑teacher. However, parents and nutrition advocates pointed out persistent barriers: lack of coverage in many Nairobi suburbs, rising food costs undermining budgets and the absence of formal monitoring frameworks in several schools. Stakeholders also flagged the urgent need for a dedicated legal framework and budget lines to safeguard the initiative from political and resource fluctuations.
Looking ahead, Nairobi County officials and education partners expect to roll out a revised policy blueprint by mid‑2026, incorporating reforms such as inclusion of schools in informal settlements, a results‑based funding model, and strengthened partnerships with local agriculture producers to boost sustainability. The upcoming School Feeding Policy sets targets to expand to all schools and link nutrition to learning‑outcome data.If successfully implemented, these reforms could position Nairobi as a national model for how nutrition and education programmes can work hand‑in‑hand—ensuring that no learner in the city goes hungry or is left behind in their studies.