Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi on Monday launched a county-wide programme providing free stationery to all public Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres, aiming to strengthen foundational learning and reduce education costs for families.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at the county headquarters in Kiambu Town, Wamatangi said the initiative covers 524 public ECDE centres and forms part of the county government’s broader plan to make early childhood education accessible and of high quality.
“We recognise the importance of early childhood education, but we cannot say that public nursery schools have been offering the quality needed, which has eventually short-changed children from less privileged families. That is the challenge we have been addressing,” Wamatangi said.
Under the programme, all 42,000 ECDE learners will receive five free 96-page exercise books covering core subjects, alongside pens, while teachers will be provided with interactive teaching tools.
Beyond learning materials, the county has been running a comprehensive feeding programme, giving children a cup of uji daily and three boiled eggs per week. On Thursdays, each learner also receives a packet of milk through the “Maziwa Freshi na Wamatangi” initiative.
To enhance the learning environment, the county has upgraded 512 ECDE centres, constructing modern classrooms and facilities on par with private kindergartens. Each centre features two classrooms for PP1 and PP2 learners, administrative offices, separate ablution blocks for teachers and children, and well-equipped play areas.
Governor Wamatangi also revealed that his administration has drafted the Kiambu County Early Childhood Development and Education Act, 2025, currently before the County Assembly. The proposed law seeks to institutionalise the ECDE reforms, ensuring that future administrations cannot reverse the gains made.
“Our goal is to make these reforms permanent. We do not want a situation where every new administration comes in and abandons what has already been built. This law will ensure that quality ECDE services are not a matter of goodwill, but a legal obligation,” Wamatangi said.
Once enacted, the ECDE Act, 2025, will mandate county administrations to provide quality infrastructure, structured feeding programmes, and adequate learning materials, guaranteeing continuity, accountability, and sustained investment in early childhood education.
During the launch, lorries loaded with exercise books covering five core learning areas, pencils, and rubbers were dispatched to all wards. Members of the County Assembly and senior county officials attended the event, coinciding with the start of the first school term.
“No child should be sent home because their parents cannot afford an exercise book or a pencil. By supplying these materials, we are easing the burden on parents and allowing children to focus on learning from the very first day of school,” the Governor said.
The initiative also includes the delivery of brand-new desks, chairs, and tables for the 512 newly constructed ECDE centres, replacing makeshift facilities and creating safe, child-friendly classrooms.
“We are investing heavily in infrastructure because the learning environment matters. A safe, well-equipped classroom gives our children dignity and sets them up for success as they progress through the education system,” Wamatangi said.
