For years, many children in Lugari Sub-County began their education in overcrowded classrooms with leaking roofs, inadequate learning materials and poor sanitation facilities.
Today, that picture is gradually changing as the County Government of Kakamega continues investing in modern Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres aimed at giving young learners a strong foundation.
The transformation is evident at Munyuki Primary School in Lumakanda Ward, where a newly commissioned ECDE centre now offers spacious classrooms, a kitchen, clean water, modern sanitation facilities and a safe environment designed for children.
The facility is among more than 61 ECDE centres that the county government is constructing across Kakamega County to improve access to quality early childhood education.
Parents say the improved infrastructure has renewed confidence in public ECDE centres.
Mary Naliaka, a parent from Lumakanda, says the new classrooms have greatly improved the learning environment for young children.
“Previously our children were learning in old classrooms that became muddy whenever it rained. Today they have a clean, secure and child-friendly environment. We no longer worry about their safety because they are learning in classrooms that are suitable for their age,” she said.
Peter Wekesa, another parent, says the county’s investment has encouraged more parents to enroll their children in public ECDE centres.
“Many parents who previously preferred private nursery schools are now bringing their children here because the facilities have greatly improved. The classrooms are bright, the furniture is suitable for young learners and there is clean water. Our children are excited to attend school every day,” he said.
The improved infrastructure is also translating into increased enrolment in public ECDE centres and in addition to improved learning facilities, school feeding programmes are enhancing learner attendance and retention.
Education stakeholders say proper nutrition has become an important complement to the county’s investment in quality infrastructure, as well-fed learners are more likely to attend school consistently and perform better academically.
A teacher at Munyuki Primary School says enrollment at the school’s ECDE section has continued to rise since the completion of the new classrooms, adding that better infrastructure and the availability of school meals have also improved attendance, learner participation and classroom interaction, making it easier to implement the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
County Executive Committee Member for Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Bernard Amwayi, says the county is constructing modern classrooms, providing age-appropriate furniture, improving sanitation facilities, and ensuring access to clean water besides recruiting qualified ECDE teachers to enhance the quality of early learning.
“Our objective is to ensure every child begins school in a safe, stimulating and conducive learning environment. We believe quality education starts with quality infrastructure, competent teachers, adequate learning resources and proper nutrition,” noted Dr. Amwayi.
He said the county continues to strengthen school feeding initiatives in ECDE centres because good nutrition supports children’s physical growth, cognitive development and overall learning outcomes.
He added that improved infrastructure has contributed to increased enrolment in many public ECDE centres as more parents choose county-supported institutions.
Governor Fernandes Barasa on his part maintains that the county remains committed to expanding access to quality early childhood education through sustained investment in ECDE infrastructure across all sub-counties.
However, education officers note that although significant progress has been made, some ECDE centres still require additional classrooms, more teachers, learning materials and expanded playgrounds to accommodate the growing number of learners.
Parents, on the other hand, have appealed to the county government to sustain the momentum by completing ongoing projects and extending similar investments to all ECDE centres in the region.
By Linet Wafula
