The Kiambu County Assembly has passed the Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) Bill 2025, a landmark law aimed at streamlining and strengthening the management of early childhood education across the county.
The Bill, which now awaits assent by Governor Kimani Wamatangi, was approved during a special sitting of the Assembly and is expected to provide a comprehensive legal framework governing ECDE centres in both public and private institutions.
The proposed legislation was sponsored by Kiambu Township MCA Francis Koina and moved by Ting’ang’a MCA Lawrence Mwaura. It seeks to regulate the establishment, management and development of ECDE services while enhancing access to quality education for young learners across Kiambu County.
Speaking after the passage of the Bill, Koina described the development as the culmination of years of consultations and stakeholder engagement.
“Today I am very grateful for the ECDE Bill, which has taken me more than two and a half years. We have walked a long journey with the Department of Education and relevant stakeholders,” said Koina.
He noted that the legislation underwent extensive public participation involving education stakeholders, civil society groups and residents, including Bunge Mashinani, whose recommendations were incorporated into the final document.
According to Koina, the law establishes clear regulations for individuals and institutions seeking to establish ECDE centres while introducing standards aimed at improving learning quality, teacher welfare and child protection.
“The Bill is there mostly to regulate how ECDE education is run both in public and private institutions,” he said.
The MCA further explained that the legislation places significant emphasis on child nutrition and welfare. He praised the county government’s school feeding programme under Governor Wamatangi’s administration, which currently provides porridge, milk and eggs to ECDE learners.
Koina said nutritionists and relevant county officers would now ensure food offered to learners meets proper nutritional standards required for growth and development.
The Bill also contains provisions aimed at improving the welfare of ECDE teachers and non-teaching staff through better working conditions and access to teaching materials.
Under the new framework, all ECDE centres will establish Boards of Management to oversee operations and approve institutional and learner needs.
The proposed law further introduces a capitation fund under the County Revenue Fund to support ECDE learners through standardised allocations while maintaining free and compulsory education for children in playgroup, PP1 and PP2.
Koina revealed that the law contains seven major clauses, including provisions for an independent tribunal that will handle disputes and incidents affecting learners, teachers and ECDE institutions.
“We shall have a body that is independent to oversee what happens to any child or even to the teacher in those ECDEs,” he stated.
While debating the Bill, MCAs stressed the importance of structured implementation to ensure equitable access to quality education across the county.
Mwaura observed that Kiambu had for years relied on national government guidelines that did not fully address the county’s education needs.
“We have achieved greatly on ECDEs so far. We identified that the County uses the framework from the National Government which at times is not in sync with the intended County Government,” said Mwaura.
He added that the Bill adequately addresses critical areas including feeding programmes, teacher recruitment and learner capitation.
Riabai MCA Hezron Gachui said the legislation complements ongoing infrastructure development projects in ECDE centres being undertaken by the county government.
Meanwhile, Karuri MCA Peter Wainaina raised concerns over inadequate security in ECDE centres, saying parents had been left carrying the burden of protecting learners.
“The burden of security in these ECDEs is an issue to the parents and we should find a way to allocate more funds to each ECDE,” said Wainaina.
Members of the Assembly also urged the county government to secure ownership documents for land hosting public ECDE centres to prevent future disputes with neighbouring institutions and stakeholders.
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Koina thanked fellow MCAs, the County Department of Education and stakeholders who supported the Bill, saying Kiambu had operated for years without a proper legal framework governing ECDE services.
Once assented to by Governor Wamatangi, the ECDE Bill 2025 is expected to usher in a new era of structured and standardised early childhood education services in Kiambu County.
By Felix Wanderi
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