- Governor Kimani Wamatangi has announced that all eligible ECDE teachers, about 1,200 in total, will be promoted by December 2026.
- The county has committed to hiring more than 1,000 additional ECDE teachers in phases to address a teacher-learner ratio currently standing at 1:34.
- Wamatangi has said Kiambu is partnering with Mount Kenya University and considering supplementary budget funding to help ECDE teachers pursue diploma and degree qualifications.
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has announced plans to promote all eligible Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers employed by the county by December 2026.
Speaking at Bahati Model ECDE Centre in Thika, Wamatangi said about 1,200 teachers are targeted in the current promotion phase as the county moves to improve the welfare of ECDE staff. “Before December, all the teachers will get promotions,” he said.
The governor said the promotions follow the construction of new ECDE centres across the county to accommodate the growing number of learners and improve the learning environment. The county plans to establish 512 model ECDE centres, each equipped with PP1 and PP2 classrooms, offices, sanitation facilities and play areas.
Wamatangi also announced plans to recruit more ECDE teachers to address staffing shortages caused by increased enrolment, saying more than 1,000 teachers would be hired in phases, with an initial group expected to be recruited immediately and subsequent recruitment undertaken in line with the county’s staffing needs. The move is expected to help reduce the teacher-learner ratio, which currently stands at about 1:34.
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The governor further said the county was working with Mount Kenya University to support ECDE teachers seeking to upgrade their academic qualifications, saying the county government would consider allocating funds in a supplementary budget to help teachers pursuing diploma and degree programmes meet their tuition costs. “I have a proposal on my table. I will put money in the supplementary budget next week,” he said.
The county has attributed a sharp rise in ECDE enrolment to its school feeding programme, which provides learners with daily porridge, three boiled eggs a week and milk on Thursdays. According to the county, enrolment increased from about 32,000 learners in 2023 to 50,000 in 2025.
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The county government has also been providing learning materials, including books, pencils and furniture, as part of efforts to improve access to quality early childhood education.
Wamatangi said the investments were aimed at ensuring that the expansion of ECDE infrastructure is matched with adequate staffing and improved working conditions for teachers. “After constructing 512 new ECDE centres, we are now promoting ECDE teachers and hiring new ones,” he said.
By Kabutu Gitau
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