Sh1 billion earmarked for new classrooms in Nairobi as enrolment rises
By Lucy Mumbi |
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja announced the plans during a stakeholders’ and media roundtable meeting in Nairobi on Thursday.
City Hall, in partnership with the national government, is set to build additional classrooms to accommodate the growing population of learners in local schools. The new classrooms will be built at a cost of Sh1 billion.
The initiative is in response to a significant 34 per cent increase in student enrolment since the launch of the Dishi na County school feeding programme.
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Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja announced the plans during a stakeholders’ and media roundtable meeting in Nairobi on Thursday, stating that the county's investment aims to expand educational facilities to cater to the increasing number of students.
“We are committed to ensuring that we can accommodate more learners. Plans are already underway to build more classrooms to meet the growing demand,” he said.
“We thank the President for this great partnership, and we are ready to build these classrooms because enrolment continues to rise.”
He emphasised the importance of effective governance, stating that he is committed to ensuring that funds allocated for building the classrooms are used appropriately.
“I will not tolerate any misuse of funds in this noble cause of feeding our children. I thank my team for their dedication and hard work in making this a success,” he said.
He also announced the successful establishment of 17 central kitchens across the county, which he said provide meals to more than 310,000 learners.
While commenting on the impact of the Dishi na County initiative, Health and Nutrition CEC Suzanne Silantoi noted that 14 months since its launch, Nairobi County has become a leader in universal school feeding programs.
“Most feeding programs focus on minority and vulnerable groups for selected days in the school year but this program ensures that all school children receive meals every school day throughout the year,” she said.
Founder of Food 4 Education Wawira Njiru also praised the initiative's positive impact, asserting that it allows underprivileged children to access education without the burden of hunger.
“Hungry learners struggle academically, and that’s what we aim to address. We want our kids in Nairobi to be well-fed so they can learn effectively,” she added.
Dishi na County Director Esther Mogusu stressed the importance of the Dishi na County programme, highlighting its success in feeding over 310,000 children.
She noted that while similar initiatives have been attempted in the past, such as the maziwa ya Nyayo programme under the late former President Moi, this current effort is making substantial progress.
“We’re thrilled to be feeding even more children this time. While President Moi provided milk through maziwa ya Nyayo, Governor Sakaja is now serving nutritious hot meals, which is real progress,” Mogusu said.
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