Long before report cards are issued and graduation gowns worn, a child’s educational path begins quietly—in simple classrooms alive with songs, crayons, and early lessons in cooperation and curiosity.
It is within these formative spaces that Kiambu County hopes to secure its future through the proposed Kiambu County Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) Bill, 2025. The ambition behind the legislation took centre stage yesterday during a public participation forum that convened educators, community leaders, civil society organisations, and child-rights advocates from across the county.
Rather than dwelling on legal technicalities, the forum focused on a shared conviction: early childhood education is not a peripheral service but a public obligation with far-reaching social and economic implications.
Participants broadly endorsed the Bill, which is sponsored by Hon. Francis Koina, MCA (Kiambu Township), describing it as a long-awaited move toward formally recognising the critical role early learning plays in shaping society. The session was chaired by Hon. Lawrence Mwaura, MCA (Ting’ang’a), who also serves as Chairperson of the County Assembly’s Education, Science and Research Committee. Under his stewardship, discussions blended policy analysis with real-life experiences drawn from ECDE centres throughout Kiambu.
As deliberations progressed, it became evident that while stakeholders support the Bill’s intent, they are keen to see it strengthened.
Contributors repeatedly stressed that laws affecting children must translate into practical, enforceable action.
This concern was especially pronounced in conversations about the ECDE feeding programme.
Participants described school meals as fundamental to learning, health, and dignity. For many children, they noted, food provided at ECDE centres may be the most reliable meal of the day. In the absence of clear legal standards on meal frequency, portion size, and nutritional quality, stakeholders warned that hunger and inequality could undermine the promise of early education.
They called on the county to enshrine minimum feeding standards in law and to collaborate closely with nutritionists and public health officers to ensure meals promote healthy growth and sustained concentration.
Governance challenges also featured prominently.
Participants cautioned that unresolved issues—particularly around land ownership and overlapping mandates between national and county governments—can abruptly disrupt learning and erode a child’s sense of stability.
To mitigate such risks, they proposed that ECDE centres be established on county-owned land wherever possible.
Where national government land is used, they urged the county to secure clear legal protections to shield learning spaces from future disputes.
Beyond land, stakeholders raised concerns about duplication of authority between county and municipal directors.
They warned that unclear lines of responsibility weaken accountability and delay service delivery, advocating instead for a well-defined coordination framework within the ECDE sector.
The most emotionally charged discussions, however, centred on ECDE caregivers.
Participants highlighted the contradiction of entrusting caregivers with children’s earliest emotional and cognitive development while often subjecting them to low pay and insecure working conditions.
They argued that meaningful reform is impossible without fair remuneration, dignified workplaces, and strategies to retain experienced caregivers.
Civil society organisations also played a key role in shaping the dialogue.
Bunge Mashinani presented a memorandum identifying 17 clauses in the Bill that require review, including a proposal to formally include civil society representatives in ECDE governance structures.
Such inclusion, participants argued, would strengthen accountability and ensure community voices remain integral to decision-making.
The organisation further raised concerns about learner welfare during periods when ECDE centres are temporarily closed or suspended.
Without clear guidelines on learner transfers, continuity of learning, and communication with parents, children risk being left vulnerable at moments when consistency is most crucial.
Despite the wide range of issues raised, the forum maintained a constructive and optimistic tone.
Stakeholders repeatedly acknowledged that the Bill reflects a genuine commitment by Kiambu County to invest in its youngest residents. Their calls were not for rejection, but for refinement.
In his closing remarks, Hon. Mwaura assured participants that the views shared would meaningfully inform the legislative process, reaffirming public participation as a cornerstone of democratic governance.
As the ECDE Bill 2025 advances, Kiambu County finds itself at a pivotal juncture. With careful amendments and sustained political commitment, the legislation has the potential to do more than regulate early education—it could safeguard childhood, restore dignity to caregivers, and secure a future shaped not by chance, but by deliberate investment in the earliest years of life.
