Nairobi City County Government Moves to Expand Dishi na County as Demand Surges in Informal Settlements

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By Irene Mwende


Nairobi City County is moving to strengthen and potentially expand its flagship Dishi na County school feeding programme following new findings that highlight growing demand — especially in informal settlements and Alternative Provision of Basic Education and Training (APBET) schools.

Speaking during a dissemination forum on nutrition assessment findings by LVCT Health and partners, Nairobi City County Head of School Feeding Programme Abdi Mohamed reaffirmed the county’s commitment to ensuring that every child has access to nutritious meals in school.

“Nairobi is the only county in the country running Dishi na County at this scale, targeting over 300,000 children in public schools,” said Mohamed. “We are here to receive feedback from our partners so that together we can strengthen and improve the programme.”

Strong Gains in Attendance and Performance
Since its rollout, Dishi na County has recorded notable successes. According to Mohamed, schools participating in the programme have experienced:
Increased school attendance
Improved academic performance
Reduced absenteeism

Significant growth in enrollment
“In some schools that previously had about 1,000 learners, enrollment has doubled to over 2,000 due to the feeding programme,” he noted. “There is a clear need to expand school feeding across the county.”

The programme has become a critical social protection intervention, especially in low-income areas where many families struggle to provide consistent meals at home.
Calls to Include APBET Schools

However, stakeholders acknowledged that many children in informal settlements who attend APBET (informal) schools are yet to benefit from the subsidized meals.

LVCT Health researcher Inviolata Njoroge shared findings from a study conducted in schools in Mathare and Viwandani, which piloted a co-created school feeding model. The research showed that while school meals significantly improve children’s nutrition, attendance, and concentration, affordability remains a challenge.

In many APBET schools, parents contribute about KSh 30 per child per day for meals — a heavy burden for households surviving on limited daily incomes.
“If a parent earns KSh 200 a day and has three children, paying KSh 90 daily for meals is extremely difficult,” Njoroge explained. “If Dishi na County, where parents pay about KSh 5 due to heavy subsidies, could be extended to these schools, it would be a huge relief.”

The research further revealed that more than half of children living in informal settlements attend APBET schools — meaning many are currently excluded from the county-supported programme.
Parents Appeal for Relief

Parents echoed the call for inclusion. Jerantine Mutio, a parent from an informal school, said while the feeding programme has helped reduce stress at home, the cost remains a struggle.

“We pay KSh 30 per child per day. If you have two children, that is KSh 60 daily. Sometimes getting that money is not easy,” she said. “If the government can subsidize even part of it, like they do in public schools, it would really help us.”
She added that the programme has eased morning routines and improved children’s well-being, but greater affordability would ensure consistent access.

County Plans Underway
Mohamed confirmed that Nairobi City County is already considering plans to expand the programme to APBET schools, although timelines are yet to be finalized.

“There is a plan underway to incorporate APBET schools. Children are equal to us in terms of health and education,” he said. “School feeding is a multi-sectoral approach. The county has done its best to restart and scale the programme, but we also welcome support from partners and donors.”

Stakeholders also recommended stronger policy frameworks, improved kitchen infrastructure, and enhanced water and energy supply to support sustainable implementation.
A Win-Win Initiative

The forum brought together the University of Nairobi and the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC), among other partners, to share evidence aimed at strengthening Nairobi’s school health agenda.
Both county officials and researchers agreed that Dishi na County is a transformative initiative — improving nutrition, boosting learning outcomes, and enhancing long-term resilience for vulnerable children.

As Nairobi continues to refine and scale the programme, collaboration between government, researchers, development partners, and communities will be key to ensuring that no child — whether in public or APBET schools — is left behind.

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