Kiambu County Governor Kimani Wamatangi yesterday flagged off a massive distribution of free learning materials and furniture for all 524 public Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres.
The initiative, aimed at ensuring nursery school education is entirely free for the county’s 42,000 learners, ensures that parents no longer have to bear the burden of purchasing stationery as schools resume for the 2026 academic year.
Speaking during the launch at the county headquarters, Governor Wamatangi revealed that his administration has distributed over 200,000 exercise books and 40,000 pencils with erasers.
“As of this morning, we are commissioning all parents in Kiambu to know they no longer need to buy books, pencils, or rubbers,” Wamatangi stated. “The only thing a parent is required to provide is a school bag. In the future, we are even planning to provide the bags so that we truly equalize all our learners.” He said
The Governor also highlighted that the transformation of the ECDE sector has become the “number one” success story of his administration, even surpassing the county’s pioneering 100% solar street lighting policy.
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Beyond learning materials, the Governor showcased a robust infrastructure portfolio. To date, the county has constructed 512 model ECDE centres, featuring modern PP1 and PP2 classrooms, staff offices, ablution blocks, and dedicated play areas.
The learners’ welfare remains a priority through a comprehensive feeding program, which includes: Daily fortified porridge (uji), three boiled eggs per week, and a packet of milk every Thursday.
“Our feeding program provides the highest possible grade of nutrition. Whether a child comes from a poor or well-off family, they all take the same fortified uji and milk. We want total standardization,” the Governor added.
Addressing the welfare of educators, Wamatangi also announced the recruitment of 120 new teachers—60 to be hired immediately and another 60 in March. He further pledged to formalize the employment of existing teachers to ensure they receive full county benefits.
In a landmark move for professional development, the Governor announced a partnership with Mount Kenya University. “I have sat with the Chairperson of MKU to ensure all our ECDE teachers have the opportunity to attain a minimum of a diploma qualification without paying a single penny,” he promised.
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To protect these gains from future political interference, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education, Dr. Mercy Njagi, noted that the ECDE Bill is currently in its final stages.
“The bill was at the government printers until November 2025. We expect the County Assembly to pass it by February 2026,” Dr. Njagi explained. “This will ensure that the feeding program and resource provision become a legal standard that successive governments must uphold.”
As the fleet of delivery vehicles left the headquarters, the Governor directed Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) to monitor their respective wards to ensure every child receives their materials by the end of the day.
By Felix Wanderi
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