Deputy President and Kenya Kwanza Presidential candidate William Ruto has pledged his support for a countrywide school feeding program in all public primary schools once he clinches the presidency.

This was in support of Nairobi senator Johnson Sakaja who proposed the introduction of the program in the institutions across the county as part of his manifesto as the gubernatorial candidate.

If successful in his bid for the governorship, Sakaja has promised to roll out the program in over 200 public primary schools in the city, which was backed by the DP who stated upon his ascent his power, he would ensure that the same would be replicated across Kenya.

The leaders were at the Mukarara Primary school in the Waithaka , Dagoretti South where a non-governmental organization Food4Education had organized a lunch feeding for pupils drawn from low-income families.

"We will feed our children in all the public schools in Nairobi. I’m glad that today H.E William Ruto has seen firsthand in Dagoretti what this program entails and has committed to also include it in his National Manifesto. A city of order and dignity, hope and opportunities!" Sakaja stated on his social media account.

"I remain grateful to Food4Education for this selfless initiative to provide food daily for these school-going children. Thank you H.E. William Ruto for endorsing this program as part of an agenda in your government," the senator added.

Ruto lauded the initiative noting that it would aid in mitigating the challenge of school dropouts and boost retention of pupils in schools.

“It is doable across Kenya. By implementing this program, our children won't have to go out looking for lunch or even go without food,” the DP stated.

Sakaja had tabled a bill in the Senate last year proposing the introduction of the program by the government but it hit a snug and is yet to sail through.

The bill dubbed 'The National School Lunch Bill' ,if passed, will compel the government to provide quality and cost-friendly meals, as he noted with concern the high numbers of pupils who did not have access to balanced meals at home, which translates to dismal performance in school.

"When children tell you they want such a basic need as lunch instead of other leisure items, you understand that the situation is dire.

“Urban poverty bites harder than rural poverty. In the city, you are on your own and that is why it is important we implement it here in Nairobi as soon as possible" he noted.

If successful, the program will be implemented through a public-private partnership where various NGOs will be mandated with serving subsidized nutritious meals to learners across the city and the country.