BY KNA’s Benard Munyao
The county government of Murang’a is set to complete Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres by the end of the 2024/2025 financial year.
Since Irungu Kang’ata’s administration took over power as the county chief in August last year, the devolved unit has so far rehabilitated and equipped 126 ECDE centres.
The county has about 700 ECDE centres which initially were dilapidated affecting the learning of young children.
Kang’ata’s administration in November last year passed a supplementary budget allocating Sh. 10 million to kick-start renovation of the centres based on priority.
Construction of new classrooms of the centres commenced early this year with priority given as per request of MCAs.
The county government in the current financial year has allocated Sh. 130 million for the project where 250 centres are earmarked for rehabilitation.
Kang’ata on Monday lauded the progress in implementation of the project saying already rehabilitated centres are offering a conducive learning environment for young children.
Speaking while commissioning Mwana wi Kigio ECDE centre in Kakuzi Mutubiri ward, the governor observed that in some centres, they are forced to build new classrooms since the existing ones are in bad condition.
“After renovating 250 centres in the current financial year, the remaining ones will be done in 2024/2025 financial year. Apart from the civil works, the project also involves equipping the centres with furniture to ensure our young children have better places to study,” he added.
Early childhood and youth polytechnics are part of devolved functions with Murang’a county government also allocating Sh. 10.5 million in the current budget to renovate youth and vocational training centres.
Kang’ata noted that the ECDE project is also aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of resources saying every ward will get rehabilitated ECDE centres.
The governor underscored the programme of providing porridge to ECDE pupils since it has helped to keep the learners in school.
The county government started to provide more than 42, 000 ECDE learners across the county with porridge since January this year.
The programme is being implemented by the county administration in partnership with a local non-governmental organization.
The majority of the programmes being done by the county government, Kang’ata divulged are funded by monies collected through local revenue.