The Kiambu County Government has launched the final phase of its ambitious Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) program, commissioning the construction of 200 additional new model centres.
This monumental undertaking, championed by Governor Kimani Wamatangi, is set to bring the total number of modern, county-built nursery schools to 512 over a three-year span.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony in Kiambu Town on Wednesday, Governor Wamatangi announced that the third phase will be substantially completed by February next year, with the final balance of the centres expected to be finished by June 2026.
“This journey would not have been possible if we did not have cooperative partners who supported us,” Governor Wamatangi stated. “Our goal is simple: every primary school in Kiambu County will have a complete, modern ECD Learning Centre. No exceptions.”
The newly constructed ECDE centres have been designed to rival top-tier private institutions, setting a high standard for public early childhood education.
Each model centre boasts a comprehensive setup, including: Two modern classrooms for PP1 and PP2, an administrative office for teachers, Separate ablution blocks for both teachers and learners, and a well-equipped play area designed to enhance child development.
The rapid progress is a testament to the county’s innovative approach and commitment to efficiency. The Governor highlighted the importance of fiscal discipline, recalling how the initial high cost estimates were revised to a realistic figure.
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“Many people doubted whether it was possible. Some even refused and said, ‘You can’t build with this BQ.’ But we insisted… and it worked,” Wamatangi explained. He further affirmed that timely payments to contractors remain a top priority to ensure the smooth, continuous execution of the projects.
The investment in infrastructure is complemented by robust welfare programs that have directly contributed to a significant increase in learner enrollment.
According to the County Chief Officer in charge of ECDE, Dr. Mercy Njagi, the population of nursery school learners has soared from 32,000 in 2023 to 50,000 by the end of last year.
This dramatic growth is attributed to the comprehensive feeding and nutrition program: a cup of uji provided to every child daily, three boiled eggs given per child every week, and a packet of milk distributed every Thursday under the popular “Maziwa Freshi na Wamatangi” initiative.
The county is also undertaking a massive human resource development initiative, stating that 1,200 ECDE teachers are in the process of being promoted, as over 1,000 new teachers set to be recruited in two phases to enhance the quality of instruction.
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Capacity Building: Through partnerships with local universities, the county has tailored a program that will enable existing ECDE teachers without diploma certificates to acquire them, with the county fully covering the fees.
“We are making an engagement… that every teacher who does not have a diploma, we are going to educate them to diploma level at no cost to yourself,” the Governor promised the teachers, adding that this will be a stepping stone towards degree level qualifications.
Governor Wamatangi concluded by reiterating his vision for public education, stating, “We want to make sure that we copy the models that work in the world… I want, let the people see that this is a government that means what they say and says what they mean.” The ECDE overhaul is poised to transform early learning in Kiambu, ensuring children from all backgrounds have access to the best start in education.
By Felix Njenga
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