Dishi na County: A Nutrition Revolution at Ruben Centre

*AEF Ruben Primary School students showing off with their Tap2Eat watches.*

At Ruben Centre in the Mukuru slums, coming to school for food is as big a motivation for children as learning itself. The UN World Food Program (WFP) fulfilled this role for years at Ruben. However, in 2018, the Kenyan government declared, "We are not beggars," and transitioned this responsibility to local entities. Schools were left to find their own ways to fill the gap. While each school had the infrastructure to prepare meals, they still needed food supplies.

To address this, Ruben Centre introduced a food fee for parents, set at KSHS 250/- (approximately $2) per term. Yet, many parents reminisced about the "good old days" when meals were free, and only half of them participated in the new arrangement. For years, the school battled to enforce payments, even resorting to sending children home for the term fee. Market price fluctuations for staples like maize and beans added further strain.

In January 2024, Nairobi County launched the "Dishi na County" feeding program, a bold initiative to address food insecurity in public schools. The program emerged as a partnership between the county government and private sponsors. Over 290,000 students in Nairobi public schools now benefit from this program daily, receiving nutritious meals that support their learning and health.

Addressing Food Insecurity in Kenya

Children are often the most vulnerable demographic when it comes to food insecurity, particularly in communities with limited access to nutritious meals. In Kenya, where high living costs and widespread unemployment prevail, food insecurity significantly affects school-going children. National statistics show that nearly 30% of Kenyan children suffer from chronic malnutrition, with 11% of children under five classified as underweight. These issues are most acute in urban slums like Mukuru.

Success Through Technology

The "Dishi na County" program has embraced innovative solutions to ensure efficiency and accountability. The introduction of the "Tap and Eat" system—using tech-enabled yellow wristbands—has revolutionized meal access. Each wristband contains a student’s identification and allows the county to monitor meal payments. Parents load the daily meal fee of five shillings via mobile platforms like M-Pesa, enabling seamless transactions.

At Ruben Primary School, the program feeds over 4,000 children daily. Dorothy Mutheu, Team Leader at AEF Ruben Primary School, highlighted its transformative impact: “This program ensures our children receive nutritious meals that enhance their learning and overall well-being.”

Challenges and Resilience

Despite its success, the program faces significant hurdles. Dorothy noted two primary challenges:

Parent Contributions: Some parents are unable or unwilling to pay the daily five-shilling fee. While this may seem minimal, the growing number of families unable to contribute strains the program’s sustainability.
Lost Wristbands: The "Tap and Eat" system faces issues when wristbands are lost. Replacement costs of KSHS 120/- pose financial difficulties for many families, affecting system efficiency.

Efforts are underway to address these challenges, including exploring donor funding and community outreach to ensure all children have consistent access to meals.

The Economic Maxim

The program's affordability lies in breaking costs into small, manageable units—a practical application of an old economic principle. By making meals accessible at just five shillings per day, Dishi na County has demonstrated that even low-income families can participate, ensuring widespread benefits.

Gratitude and Hope

As we celebrate one year of Dishi na County, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Nairobi County Government, Food for Education, and the Ministry of Education. Together, we have set a strong foundation for a brighter future, and we look forward to expanding this impactful partnership. Here's to many more years of collaboration and empowerment to the people of Mukuru.

By: Ben Kagwima & Br. Frank O’Shea OAM
Edits: Gregory Barake