Early childhood education in Kiambu County has received a major boost after Governor Kimani Wamatangi signed into law the Kiambu County Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) Act, a landmark piece of legislation aimed at safeguarding gains made in the sector and guaranteeing sustained investment in young learners.
The law, sponsored by Wanjiru Francis Koina, the Kiambu Town Ward MCA and Majority Leader in the County Assembly, seeks to institutionalize funding, infrastructure development, feeding programmes, learning materials, and human resource management in all ECDE centres across the county.
Speaking after the enactment of the law, Koina said the legislation was inspired by the hardships many children and parents faced in the past when learning facilities were inadequate and educational resources were scarce.
“Years ago, our parents struggled to provide quality learning environments for children. Many schools lacked proper classrooms, some children walked to school without shoes, and many parents could not afford uniforms or learning materials. There was little motivation for children to attend school,” he said.
Koina noted that the county government, under Governor Wamatangi’s administration, has transformed the ECDE landscape by constructing and equipping modern classrooms across Kiambu. He revealed that more than 500 ECDE classrooms have either been completed or are in the final stages of development.
“These are not just classrooms. They are fully equipped learning centres designed to provide children with the education they deserve and to give them a strong foundation at the most critical stage of their development,” he said.
A key feature of the new law is the establishment of a guaranteed budgetary allocation for ECDE programmes. The legislation requires annual funding to support the maintenance of facilities and provision of essential learning resources.
The Act also introduces structured capitation funding for every learner enrolled in ECDE centres across the county. According to Koina, the funds will support the provision of textbooks, pencils, and other learning materials while strengthening the county’s school feeding programme.
“Every child will benefit equally, whether they are in urban centres or deep in rural villages. The law ensures schools receive funds for books, pencils, daily porridge, eggs, and milk so that no child misses out,” he said.
Governor Wamatangi described the law as a major step toward securing the future of early childhood education in Kiambu.
“The Act anchors the reforms we have undertaken in the ECDE sector, ensuring gains such as quality learning centres, feeding programmes, free learning materials, and proper human resources are enshrined in law and cannot be reversed by future administrations,” the governor said.
In addition to the ECDE Act, the governor also signed into law the Kiambu County Agroecology Development Act, 2025, which seeks to promote sustainable agriculture, urban farming, and environmentally friendly food production systems.
Wamatangi said the legislation responds to growing challenges including climate change, declining soil fertility, food insecurity, deteriorating public health, and environmental degradation.
The governor further approved County Supplementary Budget Two for the 2025/2026 financial year, a measure that reorganizes county spending to prioritize development projects and programmes aimed at addressing residents’ most pressing needs.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the enactment of the ECDE law, describing it as a significant milestone that will protect investments made in early childhood education while ensuring future generations of learners continue to access quality education, nutrition, and supportive learning environments.
The legislation places Kiambu among the counties taking deliberate steps to strengthen foundational learning and secure long-term educational outcomes through legal and policy reforms.
