- Senators have flagged poor infrastructure, low enrolment and inadequate facilities at ECDE centres during their Senate Mashinani inspection in Kilifi County.
- The committee has found that Mgurureni Sabaki ECDE Centre remains unregistered, lacks capitation and continues to charge parents fees despite the free basic education policy.
- Officials have pledgedimmediate action to address the gaps identified, including capitation, learning materials and feeding programme support.
Senators have raised concerns over poor infrastructure, inadequate learning materials, low enrolment and lack of basic amenities at some Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres in Kilifi County.
The Senate Education Committee, conducting the fifth edition of Senate Mashinani, inspected Mgurureni Sabaki ECDE Centre in Magarini Constituency and Malindi Central Comprehensive ECDE Centre on Tuesday to assess the implementation of devolved education functions.
At Mgurureni Sabaki, senators found that 48 learners in PP1 and PP2 are being taught by two teachers and a head teacher, despite the centre serving a community with a large population of children. The centre, established in 2022, charges each learner Sh1,000 per term, prompting senators to question why parents were still paying fees for ECDE services, given the national policy on access to free basic education.
Senate Education Committee chairperson Betty Montet also raised concerns over the feeding programme, which is currently financed by parents. The centre provides porridge to learners at 10 am, but parents have been meeting the cost, with one parent preparing the food. Senators were told that about 200 children in the surrounding community remain out of school, with the cost of education and feeding cited among the factors contributing to low enrolment.
Senator Seki Ole Kanar said the inspection had exposed gaps that require urgent intervention, including inadequate furniture and poor security. “The County has tried; however, from our visit at Mgurureni, we have seen that some students are actually sitting on sacks instead of proper chairs and tables. We have also noted that the school is not even fenced off,” he said. Senator Nderitu Kinyua said the low enrolment was worrying given the number of children in the area.
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Senators were also informed that the centre has not received capitation and is yet to be formally registered. The community contributed towards construction of the facility, but the land on which it stands has an outstanding debt of Sh150,000. The centre also lacks an access road, while senators raised concerns over the use of pit latrines, inadequate learning materials and the need for additional furniture.
At Malindi Central Comprehensive ECDE Centre, senators found better facilities, including three classrooms, separate toilets, a playground, play materials and hexagonal tables. However, the centre lacks a kitchen, water storage tank and electricity, though the county government plans to install solar power at the institution. Senators were informed that ECDE centres receive Sh900 per child annually in capitation, with only half of the allocation disbursed so far.
Deputy chairperson Margaret Kamar called for the county government to address the gaps identified during the inspection and ensure ECDE facilities meet the required standards. She also questioned the inspection status of Mgurureni Sabaki ECDE Centre, which had not yet undergone formal inspection.
Kilifi County Executive Committee Member for Education, Felkin Kaingu Ndena, acknowledged the concerns and pledged immediate action. “As a Government, we have taken the challenges raised and we will take immediate action to rectify all the issues raised,” he said, adding that the county would work with technical teams to improve capitation, provide learning materials and ensure a consistent feeding programme.
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Senators said their findings would form part of the committee’s report and guide further engagement with the Kilifi County Government on improving ECDE services, stressing that investment in early childhood education was critical in providing learners with a strong foundation for progression through the education system.
The Senate Mashinani programme enables committees to undertake oversight of devolved functions and engage directly with county governments and communities on challenges affecting service delivery.
By Jeff Kirui
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