Kiambu County has kicked off the final leg of its ambitious Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) reforms, commissioning the construction of 200 new model centres.
Championed by Governor Kimani Wamatangi, this ambitious project is on track to deliver a total of 512 modern ECDE centres over a three-year period.
During the commissioning ceremony in Kiambu town on Thursday, the governor projected a firm timeline affirming that the third phase would be substantially complete by February next year, with the final batch of centres expected to be finished by June 2026.
“Our goal is simple: that every primary school in Kiambu county will have a complete, modern ECDE learning centre. We also recognise that this journey would not be possible if we did not have cooperative partners who supported us.” He said.
Setting a high standard for public early childhood education, the newly constructed ECDE centres are designed to compete with top-tier institutions. Each model facility features a comprehensive setup, including two modern classrooms (for PP1 and PP2), an administrative office for teachers, separate bathroom blocks for both staff and learners, and a well-equipped play area specifically designed to enhance childhood development.
The project’s speed is a testament to the county’s efficient and innovative approach. Highlighting fiscal discipline, the governor revealed that initial cost estimates were revised down to a practical figure. The county’s investment in infrastructure, combined with robust welfare programmes, has directly contributed to a significant rise in learner registration.
Additionally, Dr Mercy Njagi, the County Chief Officer for ECDE noted that the learner population had experienced a dramatic surge, rising from 32,000 in 2023 to 50,000 by the end of last year. This unprecedented growth is credited to the comprehensive feeding and nutrition programme, which sees every child provided with a cup of uji daily, three boiled eggs weekly, and a packet of milk every Thursday through the ‘Maziwa ni Freshi na Wamatangi’ initiative.
A massive human resource initiative is also underway to boost the county’s education quality. The plan involves promoting 1,200 ECDE teachers while recruiting over 1,000 new teachers in two phases.”
By Hellen Lunalo
