Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja was on June 20, 2023, moved to tears in the presence of President William Ruto as he struggled to describe the sorry state of public schools in the county.
Speaking at Roysambu Primary School at a ceremony where he launched a school feeding programme for school going children in the capital, the county boss claimed the previous regimes isolated Nairobi County schools.
For example, the youthful Sakaja faulted both former governors Evans Kidero, Mike Sonko, alongside the Nairobi Metropolitan Services, (NMS) which managed Nairobi with blessings from former president Uhuru Kenyatta, for only distributing Sh3 billion worth of bursaries to needy students for three years.
“In ten years Nairobi County gave out bursaries worth Sh3 billion, and in six months your Excellency we have given out Sh1 billion,” said Sakaja.
He added: “There are schools here which become churches on Sunday, learning goes on the following day, paving way for a vigil and a youth meeting. Successful government have not been fair to the children in Nairobi.”
The governor reiterated he will endeavour to make his feeding programme successful.
“It must work. These children deserve the same that your children have, and what my children have.”
To ensure the programme is successful, the county government will construct kitchens across the city.
In the proposed budget for the Financial Year 2023/2024, Sakaja’s feeding programme has been allocated Sh1 billion.
“In the next Financial Year, I’m asking my MCAs to pass the budget so that we can build the other six kitchens, and subsidize the meal in August.”
The governor also said that the programme has been supported by partners who have paid Sh15, and the county is paying Sh25 daily for the children to have food.
