Beyond its borders, Kenya's school feeding program has garnered international recognition.

Therefore, Governor Johnson Sakaja of Nairobi will be in France for the First Global School Feeding Coalition meeting.

French President Emmanuel Macron had asked Sakaja and President William Ruto to honor the occasion.

Felix Koskei, Head of Public Service, requested Sakaja to represent the President, noting that he had other obligations.

"Due to prior official commitments, His Excellency the President will be unable to attend this meeting. In this regard, the President has requested that you represent him at this meeting given that you have been invited as well," reads the letter addressed to Sakaja on October 5, 2023.


On October 18, 2023, the two-day summit will begin with Governor Sakaja attending the esteemed School Meals Coalition inaugural ceremony.

Several heads of state and ministers have convened to discuss ways to fund school meal programs that address climate change and promote sustainable food systems.

Sakaja's speech is anticipated to focus on his August 2023 launch of the "Dishi na County" school feeding program.

"The biggest impact we have is not pegged on data or numbers, it is that the children know that somebody cares about them," he said on Tuesday when speaking to students at a sideline meeting of his one-week official meeting in Paris.



The governor said that the feeding program is dedicated to providing a healthy meal to every student attending public elementary and early childhood development education centers every school day.

The initiative is anticipated to enhance children's transition rates, school attendance, performance, and nutritional status in Nairobi.

Dishi Na County is now focusing on 42 schools as part of its Phase One program.



Sakaja included Sh1.2 billion for the feeding program in his first budget for 2023–2024.

Amounts of about Sh500 million were set aside to construct seven additional kitchens and cover the plate cost for every youngster.

Since June 2023, ten central kitchens for the initiative have been built.