Informal Schools Push for Inclusion in Nairobi’s Dishi na County Feeding Programme

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By Judith Mwai

Parents with children in informal schools across Nairobi are calling on the county government to extend the Dishi na County school feeding programme to cover their institutions, citing high daily meal costs and rising economic hardship.

Jerantine Mutio, a parent at Flama Education Center, said she pays Sh30 per child per day for meals under the school’s feeding programme. With two children in school, she spends Sh60 daily — a cost she says is difficult to sustain.

“If I had a child in a county public school under Dishi na County, I would only pay Sh5. But here I pay Sh30 per child. Sometimes you don’t even have the money,” she said, appealing to the government to subsidize meals for children in informal settlements.

The Dishi na County programme, run by Nairobi City County, currently targets over 300,000 learners in public schools, where parents pay Sh5 per meal.

Abdi Mohamed, Head of the School Feeding Programme at Nairobi City County, said the county is reviewing findings from a nutrition assessment conducted in Viwandani by LVCT Health in partnership with the University of Nairobi, the University of Manchester, and the African Cities Research Consortium.

“We have seen increased school attendance, improved performance and reduced absenteeism in schools with feeding programmes. Some schools have doubled enrollment because of Dishi na County,” Mohamed said.

However, researchers found that more than half of children in informal settlements attend low-cost private institutions, commonly known as APBET schools, and are excluded from the subsidized programme.

LVCT researcher Inviolata Njoroge said while Sh30 may seem minimal, it is a heavy burden for families earning as little as Sh200 a day. “Children are children. 

There should be no public or private child when it comes to access to food,” she said, recommending government subsidies and infrastructure support for informal schools.

Amos Kuremu, Principal of Lungalunga Baptist Academy, emphasized that proper nutrition is essential for learning and aligns with Sustainable Development Goal Two on zero hunger.

Stakeholders are now urging both county and national governments, alongside development partners, to expand the programme and ensure all children — regardless of school type — have equal access to nutritious meals.

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