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Nutritionist & Founder, Food for Education
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Wawira Njiru (born 27 January 1991) is a Kenyan nutritionist, social entrepreneur and philanthropist. She grew up in Ruiru, Kiambu County and studied Nutrition Science at the University of South Australia. In 2012, while still an undergraduate, she hosted a Kenyan-themed fundraising dinner that raised KSh 126,000, which she used to launch Food for Education. The organisation started with a makeshift kitchen serving 25 children and has since grown to provide hot, nutritious meals to more than 500,000 public primary school pupils in urban and peri-urban areas of Kenya. Food for Education uses a hub‑and‑spoke system: meals are prepared in central kitchens and distributed to schools; parents pay via mobile money while children use NFC smartwatches to tap and eat. Njiru has been recognised internationally, including being named one of Business Daily’s Top 40 Under 40 Kenyan Women and winning the Global Citizen Prize for Youth Leadership in 2018. She was the UN Person of the Year in 2021 and in 2024 received the Skoll Award for Social Innovation, the Icon Award at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and the Elevate Prize; in 2025 she was listed among CNBC’s Changemakers.
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Founded Food for Education and scaled it to feed over 500,000 school children
Pioneered a hub‑and‑spoke school meals system using mobile money and NFC technology
Named Top 40 Under 40 Kenyan Woman and won the Global Citizen Prize for Youth Leadership (2018)
In early 2025, an Auditor General's report flagged financial irregularities in Nairobi County's 'Dishi na County' school feeding program, which is implemented by Wawira Njiru's organization, Food for Education. The audit revealed that the county overpaid for meals by failing to deduct the Sh 5 contribution made by students, effectively paying Sh 30 per plate instead of the contracted Sh 25.
The same audit also raised concerns regarding the lack of a formal agreement or Memorandum of Understanding between Nairobi County and Food for Education, as well as the unclear management of a Sh 145.7 million (approx. €1,005,000) donation from the French Embassy intended for the program.
Recognised as UN Person of the Year (2021) and recipient of the Skoll Award for Social Innovation, Icon Award and Elevate Prize (2024–2025)
Founded the social enterprise Food for Education in 2012 to provide nutritious school meals to children in Kenya.
Named a Spark International Changemaker in 2012.
Recognized as a Transform Nutrition 'Nutrition Champion' in 2013.
Named an Ibua Africa Changemaker in 2015.
Awarded the inaugural Global Citizen Prize for Youth Leadership, presented by Cisco, in 2018.
Named one of the Top 40 Under 40 Kenyan Women by Business Daily Africa in 2018.
Named among the 100 Most Influential Young Kenyans by Avance Media in 2018.
Selected as a Rainer Arnhold Fellow in 2018.
Selected as a Ford Foundation Global Fellow in 2020.
Named the United Nations Person of the Year in Kenya in 2021.
Selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2021.
Received the Icon Award from The World's 50 Best Restaurants in 2022.
Recipient of the Skoll Award for Social Innovation in 2024.
Awarded the Elevate Prize by the Elevate Prize Foundation in 2024.
Recipient of the University of Pennsylvania Barry and Marie Lipman Family Prize in 2024.
Recognized as a Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst in 2024.
Recognized by CNBC as a Changemaker in 2025.
