The Senate Standing Committee on Education has undertaken an inspection visit to two Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres in Kilifi County as part of the 5th Edition of Senate Mashinani, an initiative that brings the Senate closer to the people and provides an opportunity for Senators to undertake oversight on the implementation of devolved functions at the grassroots.

The inspection visit sought to assess the implementation status of ECDE programmes, establish the challenges affecting the centres and determine the extent to which County Government interventions are supporting the delivery of quality early childhood education.

The Committee, Chaired by Sen. Betty Montet and deputised by Vice Chair Sen. Prof. Margaret Kamar, comprised Sen. Seki Ole Kanar and Sen. Nderitu Kinyua. The Committee was accompanied by the Kilifi County Executive Committee Member for Education, Hon. Felkin Kaingu Ndena, and his technical team.

At Mgurureni Sabaki ECDE Centre in Magarini Constituency, the Committee was informed that the centre, which was established in 2022, currently has 48 learners in PP1 and PP2, served by two teachers and one Head Teacher.

The centre provides porridge to learners at 10.00 a.m. daily. However, the cost of providing the porridge is currently being met by parents, with one of the parents preparing the food at the centre. The Committee was informed that the arrangement has become a challenge for parents, with an appeal for the County Government to take over the cost of the feeding programme.

The centre further noted that approximately 200 children in the surrounding community remain at home, with the cost of education and feeding identified among the factors affecting enrolment. The Committee was also informed that the centre charges Ksh.1,000 per learner per term, translating to Ksh.3,000 annually.

Sen. Betty Montet questioned the continued payment of fees by parents at ECDE centres, noting the national policy position on access to free education.

“Is it in order that these schools should be paying Ksh.3,000 per year and yet the national policy states that the education should be free?”

The Committee also raised concerns over the physical facilities at the centre, including the use of pit latrines that were considered unsuitable for young learners. Although the centre has two well-spaced classrooms, the Committee noted that the kitchen requires additional support and that further procurement of hexagonal tables is necessary.

The Senators further observed that some learners were sitting on sacks rather than appropriate furniture, while the centre lacked adequate learning materials, including books.

Sen. Seki Ole Kanar acknowledged the efforts made by the County Government but noted that the inspection had exposed areas requiring further intervention.

“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.”

The Senator also raised concerns over the absence of a fence and the general learning environment at the centre.

Meanwhile, Sen. Nderitu Kinyua observed that the low enrolment at the centre was concerning, particularly given the large population of children in the County.

“We have also noted that despite the high number of population in children within the County, the enrolment is extremely low. We have also noted a lack of school learning materials like books. We have also noted the lack of a road for easier access.”

The Committee was further informed that the centre has not received capitation to date and has not yet been formally registered. The school is a community-based project, with the community having contributed towards the construction of the facility.

The Committee also learnt that the land on which the centre stands has an outstanding debt of Ksh.150,000, while access to the school remains difficult due to the absence of an access road, a matter identified as falling within the responsibility of the County Government.

The Senators noted that improving access to the centre, providing adequate learning materials and furniture, addressing sanitation challenges and supporting the feeding programme would be critical in encouraging more parents to enrol their children.

The Committee was also informed that the County Government is undertaking sensitisation of parents to encourage increased enrolment at ECDE centres.

The Committee also inspected Malindi Central Comprehensive ECDE Centre, which was established in 2015 and currently has three classrooms.

The centre has well-equipped classrooms, separate toilet facilities, a playground and play materials for the learners. It also has hexagonal tables, although the Committee observed that the tables were not being utilised in accordance with their intended capacity, with more than six learners being accommodated around some of the tables.

The centre, however, does not have a kitchen, water storage tank or electricity. The Committee was informed that the County Government plans to install solar power at the institution.

On capitation, the Committee was informed that ECDE centres receive Ksh.900 per child annually, with 50 per cent of the allocation having been disbursed so far.

The Committee sought clarification on the adequacy and implementation of the capitation programme, particularly in ensuring that centres have the necessary resources to provide an effective learning environment.

Sen. Prof. Margaret Kamar raised concerns over the condition of some of the facilities and called for action to address the challenges affecting the centres.

“The Governor should take charge of this and make the necessary changes, as many Counties are already following this policy.”

Sen. Prof. Kamar also raised concern over the inspection status of the centre, noting that Mgurureni Sabaki ECDE Centre had not yet been inspected.

Responding to the issues raised during the inspection, Kilifi County Executive Committee Member for Education, Hon. Felkin Kaingu Ndena, acknowledged the concerns raised by the Committee and committed to follow-up action by the County Government.

“As a Government, we have taken the challenges raised and we will take immediate action to rectify all the issues raised. I also want to thank the Senate for conducting the oversight visit so that we can improve on implementation of capitation, provide school materials and ensure a consistent feeding programme.”

The CECM noted that the County Government would work with the relevant technical teams to address the issues identified during the inspection and improve the implementation of ECDE programmes across the County.

The Senate Education Committee emphasised the importance of strengthening investment in ECDE, noting that the quality of early childhood education lays an important foundation for learners' subsequent progression through the education system.

The Committee observed that the challenges identified at the two centres pointed to the need for sustained County Government intervention in areas including infrastructure, staffing, learning materials, sanitation, feeding programmes, capitation, enrolment and access.

The inspection also provided an opportunity for the Committee to engage directly with the County Government technical team on the implementation of ECDE programmes and to assess whether resources allocated to the sector are translating into tangible improvements for learners.

The Committee’s findings will form part of its report and inform further engagement with the Kilifi County Government on the implementation of ECDE programmes and the provision of quality early childhood education services.