Nairobi City Hall has strongly defended its flagship Dishi na County school feeding programme, asserting that it operates transparently despite concerns raised by the Auditor General. The programme, spearheaded by Governor Johnson Sakaja, currently provides meals to over 316,000 learners in more than 230 public schools across the city’s 17 subcounties.
The initiative, which requires learners to contribute Sh5 per meal, has reached a significant milestone this month, having served its 33 millionth meal since inception.
Nairobi Health and Nutrition executive Suzanne Silantoi reaffirmed the programme’s compliance with contractual and policy guidelines, adding that it currently feeds the highest number of learners ever recorded in the county’s history.
Silantoi explained that the programme follows a structured subsidy model, with the county government covering Sh25 per meal, while the additional Sh5 contributed by parents was explicitly included in the tender’s terms of reference.
Concerns arose after the Auditor General flagged alleged overpayments to Food for Education (F4E), the programme’s implementing partner, and questioned the absence of a formal agreement during the pilot phase before the contract was officially signed.
However, City Hall clarified that in October 2022, the county formally requested F4E to design and pilot the feeding programme at no cost. Silantoi emphasized that written evidence of this request was provided during the audit. The pilot programme ran during the third term (August–November 2022), with the official contract commencing on December 5, 2023.
The Auditor General also queried a Sh145.7 million grant from the French Embassy, meant to fund meals for vulnerable children. Silantoi clarified that this grant was awarded directly to F4E by the French government, and the county’s role is strictly monitoring beneficiary numbers and school distribution, while financial reporting is the sole responsibility of F4E.
Regarding the procurement of school kitchen construction, Silantoi stated that evaluation score sheets were duly signed and documented, with all evidence provided to the Auditor General.
City Hall maintains that the Dishi na County programme remains financially sound and a successful initiative, ensuring affordable and nutritious meals for thousands of schoolchildren across Nairobi.
