Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has officially commissioned the construction of an additional 200 new model Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) centres, marking the third and final phase of an ambitious county-wide overhaul program.
The project is set for completion by February next year, which will bring the total number of new model ECDE centres constructed in the county over the last three years to an impressive 512.
Speaking at the launch, Governor Wamatangi affirmed the county’s dedication to providing equal, quality education for all children. He detailed the high standards of the new infrastructure, with each centre featuring two modern classrooms (for PP1 and PP2), an administrative office, ablution blocks, and a dedicated play area.
Beyond the physical infrastructure, the Governor highlighted the county’s comprehensive support program, which has seen learner enrollment surge from 32,000 to 50,000.
“The county continues to offer a comprehensive feeding program that provides daily uji, three boiled eggs per week, and a packet of milk every Thursday under ‘Maziwa Freshi na Wamatangi,'” the Governor noted.
Crucially, the administration is heavily investing in human capital. The county is promoting 1,200 ECDE teachers and has initiated the recruitment of over 1,000 new teachers.
Governor Wamatangi also announced a key partnership to uplift the teaching cadre: “We have partnered with local universities to help existing ECDE teachers without diploma certificates earn them, with the county covering the costs.”
The Governor took a moment to address the successful model that has made the rapid construction possible, emphasizing financial prudence and timely payments to contractors.
He recalled overcoming initial hurdles in the project’s design: “When the first Bill of Quantities (BQ) came to my office, it was almost 7 million shillings. I looked at it and said, ‘If we go this way, we will never build even half of the ECDs we need…’ We revised the BQ until we reached a realistic figure.”
Wamatangi lauded his team for setting a new standard in government efficiency. “We made a commitment that no contractor building an ECD will ever suffer payment delays. In fact, ECD payments are treated as first priority,” he stated, adding that this policy has been instrumental in the project’s success.
Governor Wamatangi articulated a vision that goes beyond mere construction, aiming to elevate Kiambu’s public education system to international standards, citing examples from Europe.
“I normally ask this question to all. Since we are in Kenya, we will continue to build a school like Finland. Finland has the best education system in the entire world… in Finland, the best schools, the ones that are built to take children, even by the rich of the rich, are public schools,” the Governor passionately stated.
He further vowed to dismantle the socio-economic discrimination often found in the education sector. “The mother who makes coffee… the mother who washes clothes… all those people have a right… to have their children, and their families, and their access to education, in the right and best way. We will eliminate by these actions that discrepancy and discrimination.”
Looking ahead, the Governor revealed plans to continue innovating in the ECDE sector. “From February, we will begin adding swimming pools to selected ECD centres within zoned areas,” he said, while also announcing that every ECDE centre will soon be equipped with a solar system for sustainability and improved learning.
He concluded by stressing the importance of unity and a proven track record. “I am not going to go to the people of Kiambu with stories… I want to take a track record of a government that has performed. I want, let the people see that this is a government that means what they say and says what they mean.”
