- Kitui County plans to construct modern ECDE classrooms in all public primary schools by the end of the 2026/2027 financial year.
- The announcement was made during the (KECSHA) Kitui County Annual General Meeting and Conference.
- County officials reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening early childhood education and supporting school leadership.
The Kenya Comprehensive School Heads Association (KECSHA) Kitui County held its second Annual General Meeting and Conference from June 25 to 26, 2026, at the Kitui Multipurpose Development Training Institute.
The conference, held under the theme Shaping the Comprehensive School of the Future, brought together head teachers, education stakeholders, development partners and government officials to discuss strategies for improving basic education.
Kitui County Chief Officer for Basic Education, Training and Skills Development Pauline Mwania, who represented Governor Dr Julius Makau Malombe, officially opened the conference.
The event was supported by the Ministry of Education, Teachers Service Commission (TSC), financial institutions, insurance firms and education publishers.
KECSHA Kitui County Chairman Japheth M. Kamisa said the conference provided school heads with an opportunity to reflect, learn and strengthen collaboration in improving the quality of education.
“As school heads, we recognise the critical role we play in shaping the future of our learners and our nation. The ever-evolving education landscape calls for innovative leadership, continuous professional development and strong partnerships among education stakeholders,” he said.
Kamisa thanked the Ministry of Education, TSC, development partners and sponsors for supporting the conference.
He also commended the Kitui County Government for its continued investment in education, particularly Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE).
The chairman appealed to the county government to institutionalise the annual conference as Kitui County’s Academic Day to celebrate educational achievements and promote innovation across schools.
County intensifies investment in ECDE
Addressing the conference, chief guest Pauline Mwania said the county government continues to prioritise education through bursaries, ECDE infrastructure and teacher employment.
She revealed that the county had already constructed modern ECDE classrooms in 1,403 public primary schools.
“We are planning to construct an ECDE classroom in every public primary school in Kitui County. The remaining 285 schools without modern classrooms will be covered during the 2026/2027 financial year,” she said.
Mwania emphasised that the county government is replacing mud and grass-thatched ECDE classrooms with permanent structures to provide learners with safe and conducive learning environments.
She noted that Governor Julius Makau Malombe had prioritised education immediately after assuming office in 2022.
According to the Chief Officer, the county has employed 1,680 ECDE teachers on permanent and pensionable terms, relieving parents of the burden of paying teachers’ salaries.
She also explained that the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system had transformed primary schools into comprehensive schools, where learners from ECDE through Grade 10 are managed under one institution.
Mwania highlighted her extensive experience in education, having previously served as a secondary school principal and later as head of the National Capitation Programme at the Ministry of Education under former Cabinet Secretaries Dr Fred Matiang’i and Prof George Magoha.
Other speakers included KECSHA Kitui County Secretary Justus M. Syengo, Treasurer Simon Ngomoa and Gender Representative Josephine Ndege.
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Kitui County has approximately 1,100 KECSHA members serving in 1,688 public primary schools.
KECSHA, established in 2003, is the national umbrella body representing public primary school head teachers and currently has more than 20,000 members across Kenya.
By Boniface Mulu
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