Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has delivered the county’s first chapati-making machine, marking a major development in the city’s school feeding programme.
The machine was installed at Toi Primary School kitchen on Thursday, August 26, and is expected to increase the number of chapatis served to learners across Nairobi.
According to the governor, the machine can produce up to 2,000 chapatis every hour. The products will be distributed to participating schools according to a planned timetable.
The introduction of chapatis is expected to improve the variety of meals provided through the Dishi na County school feeding programme.
Sakaja described the arrival of the machine as another commitment fulfilled by his administration. He said the county was focused on delivering practical services rather than making promises.
The governor said the feeding programme currently benefits more than 324,000 learners in Nairobi. He added that schools have been given specific days when pupils will receive chapatis as part of their meals.
Since its establishment, the programme has provided more than 85 million hot meals to children in public schools. The county is now working towards reaching the 100 million meal milestone.
The programme provides learners with a subsidised hot meal for five shillings, helping families cope with the rising cost of living while encouraging children to attend school regularly.
Sakaja said the initiative had helped address hunger among pupils, noting that some children previously missed classes because they lacked food at home.
The programme currently covers 230 public schools spread across 17 sub-counties in Nairobi. The county government has indicated that it could expand the initiative to public day secondary schools.
Schools located in informal settlements are also expected to benefit as the county considers widening the programme.
The new machine is therefore expected to play an important role in meeting the growing demand for chapatis. Its high production capacity could allow more learners to benefit without placing additional pressure on school kitchens.
School officials and kitchen staff welcomed the development, saying learners were excited about having chapatis added to their meals.
The initiative comes as county governments continue to explore ways of supporting vulnerable families through school feeding programmes.
For many parents, reliable meals at school can reduce household expenses while helping children remain focused during lessons.
As Nairobi moves towards its 100 million meal target, the addition of the chapati-making machine could become another significant milestone in the county’s effort to improve school feeding.