The Senate Standing Committee on Education has raised concerns over the level of support extended to Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres by the Kajiado County Government, citing gaps in learning materials, staffing, nutrition, infrastructure and implementation of approved programmes.

The Committee, Chaired by Sen. Betty Montet and deputised by Vice Chair Sen. Prof. Margaret Kamar, raised the concerns today during a County Visit to Kajiado, undertaken to assess the state of ECDE and Vocational Training Institutions and establish the extent to which County interventions are benefiting learners.

The Senators, including Sen. John Kinyua, Sen. Johnes Mwaruma and Sen. Kanar Seki, commenced the visit with a courtesy call on Kajiado Governor H.E. Joseph Ole Lenku at the County Headquarters in Kajiado Town, before proceeding to inspect ECDE centres at Moipei and Ole Lenku Township, as well as Isinya Vocational Training Centre.

During the engagements, Sen. Mwaruma sought clarity on the provision of teaching and learning materials in ECDE centres, questioning whether the supplies were being provided by the County Government, parents or development partners.

The Committee Chairperson, Sen. Montet, also sought an explanation on the level of investment by the County Government in ECDE, noting that the function is devolved and therefore requires adequate budgetary support. She sought to establish how budgetary allocations to the sector were translating into tangible services and facilities for learners.

Responding to the concerns, Kajiado County Executive Committee Member for Education Ms. Janet Sereu attributed delays in the implementation of some education programmes to lengthy procurement processes within the County Government.

Ms. Sereu explained that procurement procedures had slowed the implementation of planned interventions and delayed the delivery of some programmes to ECDE centres. She, however, noted that the County Government was working within the established procurement framework to implement its programmes.

The CEC Member further disclosed that Kajiado County has 626 ECDE centres across its wards, noting that Members of the County Assembly also play a significant role in the development of the centres.

The disclosure prompted the Committee to seek further clarity on the respective responsibilities of the County Executive and ward representatives in supporting and developing ECDE centres.

The Committee also raised concerns over discrepancies between the number of ECDE teachers contained in a report submitted by the County Government and the number reported to be deployed to the centres visited.

The Senators called for the figures to be reconciled to establish the actual staffing position and determine whether the reported numbers accurately reflect the situation on the ground.

Nutrition and food provision also emerged as a key area of concern during the visit.

Sen. Seki, who previously served as the County Executive Committee Member for Education, recalled that the County Government provided porridge to ECDE learners during his tenure.

Noting that some of the centres visited currently receive support from non-governmental organisations for the provision of porridge, Sen. Seki questioned the sustainability of relying on external partners for the programme and sought clarity on the role of the County Government in supporting the nutritional needs of ECDE learners.

Meanwhile, Sen. Prof. Kamar raised concerns over congestion in classrooms and inadequate playing grounds in some of the centres visited, noting that children require sufficient space for both learning and play.

She emphasised the need for ECDE infrastructure to support the holistic development of young learners, beyond classroom instruction.

On budget implementation, Sen. Kinyua questioned the utilisation of funds allocated to the ECDE sector, noting that although the County Government allocates resources to the sector every financial year, limited evidence of the investment was visible during the Committee’s inspection visits.

The Committee further sought explanations regarding learning materials that had reportedly been budgeted for in previous financial years but had not reached schools, despite County reports indicating that the supplies had been provided.

The Senators called for greater accountability in the procurement and delivery of learning materials to ensure that resources allocated to ECDE translate into improved learning conditions for children.

At Isinya Vocational Training Centre, the Committee shifted its focus to youth skills development and the implementation of the 2Jiajiri initiative, supported by KCB and the County Government.

The Senators sought clarity from the Centre’s management on how the institution benefits from the programme, including the respective contributions and responsibilities of KCB and the County Government in supporting youth skills development.

The Committee also sought data on the number of primary schools, secondary schools and Vocational Training Institutions in Kajiado County to establish whether the existing institutions are adequately serving their respective catchment areas.

The Senators further raised concerns over transition gaps within the education system, particularly the progression of learners from primary and secondary education into Vocational Training, while emphasising the need for greater attention to ECDE and Vocational Training Institutions.

The Committee’s findings will form part of its report and inform further engagement with the County Government on matters relating to ECDE financing, staffing, learning materials, nutrition, infrastructure, procurement and Vocational Training.