Education Lobby Group File Case Opposing Sakaja’s Lunch Program
The Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s “Dishi na County” school feeding programme, where centralised kitchens will be established to serve lunch for primary school students in 10 sub-counties, is being challenged in court by an advocacy group for education rights.
Executive Director of the Tunza Mtoto Coalition Janet Muthoni Ouko claimed in an open letter to the Governor that the Ksh1.2 billion intended to construct the kitchens should have been used to construct more Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) centres and public schools in order to relieve congestion and benefit students.
We have proof that Nairobi’s children are not missing school mostly due to a lack of school lunches. They are levies, she replied.
Nairobi only has 205 public elementary schools, according to Ms. Ouko, and there are at least 3,000 non-formal schools, most of which are located in the neighbourhoods of Kibra, Mathare, Mukuru, Kibagare, Kiambiu, Maili Saba, and Kawangware.
She stated that the school feeding programme lacked inclusion because it mainly benefited public schools, which account for 11.2% of all children in the county.
Ms. Ouko noted that lack of school fees, not hunger, was the main cause of absenteeism among Nairobi youngsters.
The governor was also criticised by the former CEC for Education for wanting to spend money on a task that is not devolved.
The Director claims that the project would also reinforce inequality because it is solely intended to benefit public schools, which enrol only 11.2% of all children in the county, while completely ignoring those in non-formal schools.
As she put it, “We shall move to court to seek orders stopping the expenditure of Nairobi County funds in programmes that further marginalise the poorest of the poor in Nairobi.”
In addition to pursuing legal action, Ms. Ouko stated she would like the Senate to become involved to ensure a prompt reaction to stop the loss of value for money.
We ask the Senate: “Is county money to be spent at the governor’s discretion even when that discretion is obviously contrary to reason and the law as it currently exists?” She struck a stance.
Education Lobby Group File Case Opposing Sakaja’s Lunch Program
